2010 Azlan Shah Cup fixtures

SEVEN teams for the Azlan Shah Cup are World Champions Australia, South Korea, Pakistan, China, India, Egypt and Malaysia.

Thursday, May 6
1605 - South Korea v Egypt
1805 - China v India
2005 - Pakistan v Malaysia

Friday, May 7
1605 - Austraia v Egypt
1805 - Pakistan v India
2005 - South Korea v Malaysia

Saturday, May 8 - Rest Day

Sunday, May 9
1605 - South Korea v India
1805 - Pakistan v China
2005 - Australia v Malaysia

Monday, May 10
1605 - South Korea v China
1805 - Australia v India
2005 - Malaysia v Egypt

Tuesday, May 11 - Rest Day

Wednesday, May 12
1605 - Australia v Pakistan
1805 - China v Egypt
2005 - India v Malaysia

Thursday, May 13
1605 - Pakistan v Egypt
1805 - Australia v South Korea
2005 - China v Malaysia

Friday, May 14 - Rest Day

Saturday, May 15
1605 - Australia v China
1805 - South Korea v Pakistan
2005 - India v Egypt

Sunday, May 16
1605 - 5/6th Placing
1805 - 3/4th Placing
2035 - Final

A blooding exercise in Ipoh

COMMENT
By Jugjet Singh

THE Azlan Shah Cup was incepted in 1983 with Australia becoming the Inaugural champions, and they went on to win the Invitational for another four times in 1998, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
Five titles out of nine appearances is the World No 1’s achievement, and they are expected to be in the final of the 19th Edition which starts in Ipoh on Thursday, even with almost a complete new cast.
Australia beat the Germans to the World title in New Delhi, but only four from that team will be fielded in the Azlan Shah Cup.
But that does not make them a whipping side, as the second stringers in Australia will be fighting for limited space in the Champions Trophy line-up, and Azlan Shah Cup will be their selection ground.
Pakistan has also dropped many seniors, but it has nothing to do with planning for the future, but more like weeding out the deadwood which sunk them to the bottom of the 12-team World Cup.
Captain Zeeshan Ashraf, Akhtar Ali and Mohammad Waseem are said to have requested for rest while world record goal-scorer Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi were not selected.
Goalkeeper Salman Akbar, who also played in World Cup, did not attend trials, and he completed the seven dwarfs cast who will not have a role to play in the drama that will unfold at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh.
India, who ended eighth at their own World Cup, have gone on a witch-hunt and dropped four players who were among those who revolted for a players contract just weeks before the showcase was supposed to start.
Sandeep Singh, Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh goal keeper Adrian D’Souza and Vikram Pillay are among those who have been left out and new blood injected.
Both Pakistan and India were considered flops in the World Cup, and are said to be on a team-building exercise, with the Azlan Shah Cup tournament a perfect venue to blood new players.
South Korea, sixth in the World Cup, will present eight new players, as they look to win the Asian Games gold and qualify on merit for the 2013 London Olympics.
And the early indication is that the Koreans will play in the final against Australia for the 19th Azlan Shah Cup gold.
The Invitational will also see China and Egypt in the fray, and any team which dismisses them before taking them head on for 70 minutes might pay for their folly.
Malaysia, with many players on the injury list, will also blood some new players but finishing fourth is not out of their capabilities.
We have the distinction of being the runner-up last year, but just like all the other teams, this tournament is just a warm-up for coach Stephen van Huizen’s men as they prepare to snatch the Asian Games gold medal from the grips of South Korea, India, Pakistan, China and Japan.

BJSS blow their chances

DOUBLE champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) blew their title chances when they were held 1-1 by UniKL in Division One MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League at the Tun Razak Stadium last night.
However, UniKL still have an outside chance to win their maiden title, provided they beat another title aspirant Bandar Penawar Sports School Thunderbolt.
BJSS dominated the first half, but wasted the chances that came their way because their forwards hesitated when presented with an open goal.
The sports school were also fast on the break and won two penalty corners. The first went to waste due to a poor push. but the second was flicked high into the net by Kavin Kartik in the 25th minute.
However, after the breather, UniKL came back into the match and won their first penalty corner in the 46th minute. Sabri Mohamed flicked in the equaliser and the match became a sizzling affair as both sides tried to break the deadlock.
But the elusive goal never came and both the sides had to share points.
In Division Two, Ipoh City Council kept their grip at the top of the standings with a 5-1 drubbing of Datuk Taha of Gemencheh, Negri Sembilan.
Saiful Manan (20th, 63rd), Azrul Fazrin (26th), Sabir Ismail (49th) and Nazri Roslan (68th) scored for Ipoh while the Taha goal was scored by Zabad Rosly (21st).
Ipoh have 17 points after seven matches, but followinghot on their heels are Pahang who smashed Kuala Selangor 10-0.
Pahang, who have played two less matches than Ipoh, have yet to drop a point in five matches.
The Pahang goals were scored by Hafiz Zainol (third, 63rd), Fahmi Abdullah (sixth, 12th, 49th), Syafiq Syazwan (14th), Ikhwan Mashor (31st, 34th), Absyraaf Ilham (42nd) and Zulhannan Mazlan (66th).
RESULTS: Division One -- Bukit Jalil Sports School 1 UniKL 1; Kelantan 1 PJCC 4; Anderson 0 BPSS Juniors 5.
Division Two: Datuk Taha 1 Ipoh City Council 5; Kuala Selangor 0 Pahang 10; Sabah 2 Tunku Besar Secondary School 1; Johor 2 Penang Frees 4.


DIVISION ONE

P W D L F A Pts

UniKL 6 5 1 0 29 6 16
BJSS 6 4 2 0 18 4 14
Thunderbolt 4 4 0 0 25 3 12
PJCC 7 3 1 3 17 15 10
Anderson 8 3 1 4 14 28 10
BPSS Juniors 5 2 0 3 9 13 6
Kelantan 6 0 2 4 7 31 2
BJSS Juniors 5 0 1 4 2 17 1
MWHA 3 0 0 3 4 9 0

DIVISION TWO

P W D L F A Pts
Ipoh CC 7 5 2 0 22 5 17
Pahang 5 5 0 0 24 8 15
Sabah 5 4 0 1 21 4 12
TBSS 6 2 2 2 16 9 8
Frees 4 1 2 1 12 11 5
Matri 5 1 1 3 7 8 4
Selangor 5 1 0 4 3 34 3
Johor 6 0 2 4 9 18 2
Datuk Taha 5 0 1 4 8 17 1

Malaysia v Scotland in pictures

Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Australia	3	3	0	0	16	1	9
Scotland	3	2	0	1	8	2	6
Ireland	3	1	0	2	3	5	3
Chile	3	1	0	2	1	8	3
Malaysia	4	1	0	3	3	15	3

Scots drub Malaysia 5-0

By FIH

IN today’s game Malaysia tried to stop Scotland’s winning record. So far, both teams had showed great determination and the ability to adjust well to the challenges at the start of this tournament.
Scotland strong in attitude, obtained their first Penalty Corner in the first 5 minutes of the game, however, a straight shoot by Emily MAGUIRE was beautifully saved Farah Ayuni YAHYA
Scotland trying to open the score board, continue to pressure Malaysia’s defense an soon later other four Penalty Corner were called by umpire Michelle JOUBERT from South Africa. Unfortunately, for Scotland none of them were successful. It was only in their 6th Penalty Corner attempt the Scottish had a great opportunity with a deflection done by Laura WRIGHTSON that went just off the right post.
Malaysia tried to regroup but, with an excellent circle approach from the left side by Laura BARTLETT, Vikki BUNCE and Holly CRAM allowed open player Alison Bell to score a stunning goal opening the lead in today’s game.
At 34 minute of the fist half, Malaysia had an excellent counter attack created by Amarina Siti Noor RUHANI who passed to unmarked Rabiatul Adawiyah MOHAMED who tried a reverse shot wrongly defended by Catriona FORREST and umpire Soledad IPARRAGUIRRE from Argentina, called the first Penalty Corner for Malaysia. However, Malaysia could not utilized the Penalty Corner to their advantage.
The second half displayed a more aggressive play by Malaysia, perhaps in response to their coach who clearly showed disappointed with how the game was developing.
Scotland’s attacking strategy from the left side of the field, was successful and they were awarded a Penalty Corner after Siti Noor Amarina RUHANI intentionally faulted Scotland’s forward Samantha JUDGE. A well executed set play allowed Laura BARLETT to stop the ball allowing Vikki BUNCE to score with a low flick to the left side of the net.
Malaysia continue their fight, and with Nurani ABDUL RAHMAN they lead and attack with Juliani MOHAMAD DIM and Rabiatul Adawiyah MOHAMED earning their first Penalty Corner in the second half. Unfortunately, for Malaysia Scotland’s s defense unit was too strong for them.
Only four minutes left and Scotland earned two more Penalty Cornersthat they efficiently performed allowing Emily MGUIRE to score two consecutive goals.
Just shy of the end of the match, captain Linda CLEMENT finished the game with the fifth goal of the match.