Peaking too early?

Egypt’s Mohamed Basha (right) stretches over Azlan Misron to knock the ball away from the Malaysian in their Azlan Shah Cup match on Monday. Malaysia won 4-1. — Pic: MUHAIZAN YAHYA

THE question everyone asking is has the Malaysian team peaked too soon and at the wrong tournament, with the Asia Cup starting on May 9 in Kuantan.

The Azlan Shah Cup does not offer ranking points, and neither is it a qualifier to a bigger platform, as here, only pride is at stake.
With 3-2 and 4-1 wins over Pakistan and Egypt respectively in the bag, coach Tai Beng Hai said there is no hard and fast belief to peaking too early.
"The wins are good indicators that training for the past three months has benefited the players, and we are slowly progressing to the desired goal, which is the Asia Cup. Peaking too early is not the case here, as there is still ample room for progress," said Beng Hai.
Of Malaysia's seven goals to date, five have come from penalty corners while two were field attempts. A handful of penalty corner variations were tested in the two matches, with Amin Rahim scoring from a direct flick, Azlan Misron from a slap-shot, Engku Malek from a hit, and Chua Boon Huat scoring two goals with deflections from the penalty spot.
And the coach said the team have more penalty corner variations up their sleeves.
"I am testing the penalty corner battery by using variations, and in the remaining matches we will test other set-pieces. The Azlan Shah Cup is a timely tournament to prepare Malaysia for the Asia Cup," said Beng Hai.
The Asia Cup offers only one ticket to the 2010 New Delhi World Cup with the losers having to go through other qualifiers. Malaysia are in Group A with Japan, South Korea and Oman, while Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and China make up the other group.
The top two teams advance to the semi-finals which means Malaysia will have to beat either India or Pakistan to make the final. Both India and Pakistan are having a nightmarish Azlan Shah Cup with India being held 2-2 by Egypt, and Pakistan losing to Malaysia and New Zeland with identical 3-2 scores.
However, coaches of both teams remain unfazed as their end goal is also the Asia Cup. India, as hosts, have qualified while Pakistan will recall four veterans including drag-flicker Sohail Abbas for their Asia Cup campaign.
So, even though the next two matches against India today and New Zealand on Saturday will show if Malaysia have what it takes to qualify for the final, Beng Hai will nonetheless be using the matches to juggle his players, and try out new methods with an eye to snatching the Asia Cup gold.

Malaysia 4 Egypt 1

RESULTS: New Zealand 3 Pakistan 2, Malaysia 4 Egypt 1.

MALAYSIA were made to slog by Egypt, but the 4-1 victory was sweet reward for them in the 18th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.

The national team are in good steed to make the final as they only have to beat either New Zealand or India after today's rest day.
Malaysia were put under pressure in the first half as Egypt made use of their superior height to steal the ball, and goalkeeper S. Kumar was kept busy.
And at the Egyptian goal, Azlan Misron and Ismail Abu tested goalkeeper Mohamed Mabrouk with a few deft deflections, but the score remained 0-0 as the clock ticked. The Malaysian players looked content on keeping the ball for long periods and making the Egyptians run in circles.
Ismail finally gave the Malaysian fans something to cheer about when he fired a salvo from the top of the semi-circle to beat Mabrouk in the 27th minute.
Both sides went into the dressing room without conceding any penalty corners, but it was obvious that the hosts were in command, even though they only had a one-goal cushion.
The restart saw Malaysia mount numerous attacks and finally won their first penalty corner in the 39th minute.
Amin Rahim took the flick but was stopped by the first runner, and another penalty corner was awarded. This time, defender Engku Malek made no mistake with a thundering shot.
Egypt woke up from their slumber in the 45th minute, and Ahmed El Hakeim made it 2-1 with a field goal.
Malaysia won a string of penalty corners with 10 minutes remaining but none found its mark until the 64th minute when Chua Boon Huat connected. And Boon Huat again scored off a similar penalty corner set-piece four minutes later and Malaysia were safely home.
In an earlier match, New Zealand beat Pakistan 3-2 courtesy of a late penalty stroke.
Priyesh Bhana gave New Zealand the lead in the seventh minute only for Imran Mohammed to equalise for Pakistan a minute later, and then give his team the lead with a 23rd minute penalty corner brace.
Nicholas Haig made it 2-2 in the 44th minute, and New Zealand nailed the winner in the 68th when they were awarded a penalty stroke from which Dean Couzins converted.
FIXTURES: Today: REST DAY.
Tomorrow: Egypt v New Zealand (5pm), India v Malaysia (7pm); April 9: New Zealand v India (5pm), Pakistan v Egypt (7pm). April 10: REST DAY. April 11: India v Pakistan (5pm), New Zealand v Malaysia (7pm); April 12: Third-Fourth (4.30pm), Final: (7pm).

STANDINGS

P W D L F A Pts
MALAYSIA 2 2 0 0 7 3 6
NEW ZEALAND 1 1 0 0 3 2 3
INDIA 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
EGYPT 2 0 1 1 3 6 1
PAKISTAN 2 0 0 2 4 6 0

Malaysia open on a 3-2 high

Pakistan’s Muhammad Saqlain (centre) tries to find a way past Malaysia’s S. Selvaraju (left) and Baljit Singh in their Azlan Shah Cup match in Ipoh yesterday. Malaysia won 3-2. — Pic: MUHAIZAN YAHYA

RESULTS -- Egypt 2 India 2, Malaysia 3 Pakistan 2.

MALAYSIA started on a winning note when they beat Pakistan 3-2 in the 18th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
It was the first time Malaysia beat Pakistan after the 2002 Busan Asian Games, and the three points placed coach Tai Beng Hai's men among the favourites for a podium finish.
Malaysia started aggressively, and in the eighth minute, Chua Boon Huat's reverse stick shot was blocked by goalkeeper Ehsan Ullah, but the ball fell onto Ismail Abu's path and he duly converted.
But umpire Sayed Ab Del Rady from Egypt blew for a penalty corner instead.
However, Amin Rahim made up for the umpire's mistake with a low flick which crashed into the board for the lead.
But a lapse in defence two minutes later saw Pakistan pull off a swift equaliser with Shakeel Abbasi getting his name on the scoreboard.
But Shahrun Nabil slammed home a rebound in the 29th minute to give Malaysia the lead again.
Malaysia slowed down the game after the breather with square passes and mounted selected counter attacks.
After soaking in some pressure from Pakistan, Malaysia won their first penalty corner after the breather in the 48th minute and Azlan Misron, the pusher, converted with a slap-shot and Malaysia had a 3-1 cushion.
But instead of looking for more goals, Malaysia started defending and gave Pakistan ample opportunities to score, but the men in green only took up one offer when Abbas Haider scored a field goal in the 68th minute.
"This was the start we were looking for and my players delivered. It is never easy playing Pakistan, and the win was possible as every department worked hard, and were in good understanding," said Beng Hai.
Meanwhile, in the curtain raiser, Egypt stunned India 2-2.
Egypt, ranked 21st in the world, stunned 10th ranked India when Mohamed Hassan scored a field goal in the eighth minute.
India had to dig deep into their resources, before Sandip Singh equalised in the 14th minute off a pealty corner attempt.
Shivendra Singh then gave India the lead in the 50th minute, but a 70th minute penalty corner goal by El Saied Amr saw the Egyptians celebrating their "victory".
FIXTURES: April 6: New Zealand v Pakistan (5pm), Malaysia v Egypt (7pm); April 7: REST DAY; April 8: Egypt v New Zealand (5pm), India v Malaysia (7pm); April 9: New Zealand v India (5pm), Pakistan v Egypt (7pm); April 10: REST DAY; April 11: India v Pakistan (5pm), New Zealand v Malaysia (7pm); April 12: Third-Fourth (4.30pm), Final: (7pm).





STANDINGS

P W D L F A Pts
MALAYSIA 1 1 0 0 3 2 3
INDIA 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
EGYPT 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
PAKISTAN 1 0 0 1 2 3 0
NEW ZEALAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Its now or never...

MALAYSIA will open their campaign against Pakistan in the 18th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh today,and there is a high possibility that it will be a winning start.
Pakistan will field a number of youngsters in the Azlan Shah Cup, while four stalwarts will only make their appearance in the Asia Cup in Kuantan on May 8-15.
"If you weigh he Azlan Shah Cup and the Asia Cup, the weight is definately on the Asia Cup as it offers a ticket to the (2010) World Cup.
"That is why we have exempted some players while we will try out some in the Azlan Shah Cup," said Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan.
Drag flick ace Sohail Abbas, striker Rehan Butt, midfielder Waseem Ahmed and goal-keeper Salman Akber are among those who have been exempted.
And Sohail, playing in Europe, holds the world record of scoring 267 internationaL goals before calling it a day to parade his skills in Europe leagues.
"It is confirmed that Sohail will come out of retirement to help Pakistan qualify for the world up, because if we miss this chance in Kuantan, then it will be very difficul to go through the qualifier," said Shahid.
Malaysia are also n the mood to prepare for the Asia Cup: "Of course the Asia Cup is more important, but we will also be playing for a podium finish in the Azlan Shah Cup," said Malaysian coach Tai Beng Hai.
The Azlan Shah Cup was incepted in 1983 with Australia lifting the first title, while Argentina were the 2008 titalists.
India has tasted success in 1985, 191 and 1995, while Pakistan won it in 1999, 2000 and 2003.
New Zealand and Malaysia have yet to see the glitter of gold, while Egypt will be making their debut.
And the absence of regulars Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and South Korea has diluted the tournament to a xcertain degree, but it also gives a glimmer of hope for the home fans.
"Even without the top teams in the world, it will be a difficult tournament, but not an impossible one to win," said Tai Beng Hai.
As for New Zealand, ranked seventh and the highest here, they have also left out many regulars Ryan Archibald, Hayden Shaw, Phil Burrows, Simon Child, Brad Shaw and Shea McAleese.
All pointers indicate that this will be the bet chance for Malaysia to win at their own back-yard. Its now or never.
ends/

Malaysia win warm-up

FILE PIC: Pakistan's Waqas Sharif (L) is challenged by Malaysia's Chua Boon Huat during their Hockey Champions Trophy match in Kuala Lumpur December 3, 2007.

MALAYSIA beat New Zealand 2-0 in a warm-up at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh yesterday, and trimmed the Azlan Shah Cup squad to the final 18.
There were no major surprises, as goalkeeper Fairul Wanasir, defender Megat Azrafiq and forwards Herwan Pami and Fekri Basaar were dropped after the final selection.
Malaysia will be up against New Zealand, Pakistan, India and Egypt in the Azlan Shah Cup from April 5-12.
Yesterday, Amin Rahim gave Malaysia the lead in the 10th minute off a penalty corner attempt, while Chua Boon Huat scored the second in the 18th minute, and the two goals were enough to win the friendly.
“I got the feeling that New Zealand were still acclimatising when they played us today (yesterday) and the heat (9am) was too much for them.
“However, the result is a good boost, as this is our last training match before we play in the tournament,” said national chief coach Tai Beng Hai.
The squad: Goalkeepers: S. Kumar, Khairul Nizam Ibrahim; Defenders: Amin Rahim, Madzli Ikmar (capt), Sukri Mutalib, Engku Malik, Baljit Singh Sarjab, Baljit Singh Charun.
Midfielders: Shahrun Nabil, Jivan Mohan, Kelvinder Singh, Nabil Fiqri, Azlan Misron; Forwards: S. Selvaraju, Ismail Abu, Chua Boon Huat, Hafifi Hafiz, Amerullah Aziz.
FIXTURES: April 5 -- Egypt v India (5pm), Malaysia v Pakistan (7pm); April 6: New Zealand v Pakistan (5pm), Malaysia v Egypt (7pm).
April 7: REST DAY.
April 8: Egypt v New Zealand (5pm), India v Malaysia (7pm); April 9: New Zealand v India (5pm), Pakistan v Egypt (7pm).
April 10: REST DAY.
April 11: India v Pakistan (5pm), New Zealand v Malaysia (7pm); April 12: Third-Fourth (4.30pm), Final: (7pm).