MALAYSIA ended their campaign spot on the fifth target set for them by the Malaysian Hockey Federation, when they beat Poland 3-0 in the Champions Challenge I in Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday.
And it came with a guarantee to play in the next Champions Challenge I, and a move up from their 14th spot when the next world rankings are updated.
It was a bit of consolation, as Malaysia showed that they can play possession hockey, but Poland were never in the match and looked like they were just waiting for the final hooter to end their misery.
Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin started the winning touch with a field goal in the 18th minute, and Faizal Saari made it 2-0 in the 29th minute to take his tournament tally to three goals.
Tengku then doused the Poles fight-back with a deft touch off an Azlan Misron pass in the 47th minute, and took his tally to five goals in Africa.
In the group stages, Malaysia lost 3-1 to Canada, drew 2-2 with Japan and lost 5-2 to Argentina.
However, it was a heartbreak for them in the quarter- finals, where they took a 4-2 lead, but crumbled to lose 5-4 to India off a golden goal.
In the seventh-eighth placing match, Japan overwhelmed Canada 7-2, to show that they are serious contenders for the Olympic Qualifiers which they will host in Kakamigahara in April.
RESULTS: Final -- India x Belgium x (10.30pm start); Third-Fourth: South Africa x Argentina x (8pm start); Fifth Sixth: Malaysia 3 Poland 0; Seventh-Eighth: Japan 7 Canada 2.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Reason enough for SA to upset India
JONATHAN COOK in Randburg
Just 70 minutes separates the South African men’s hockey team from earning a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
SA meet eight-time Olympic Games gold medallists India in the 4 pm Champions Challenge semi-final at Randburg Hockey Stadium Saturday (live on SuperSport) and are just one win away from fulfilling the stringent requirements of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
SA’s Olympic governing body, not satisfied that winning the Africa Olympic Qualifier tournament was sufficient proof of the team’s ability to compete for a medal in London, set a further hurdle for the team. Reach the final of Champs Challenge and your ticket to London is assured.
Failing that, SA have one last chance for London if they win the final Olympic Qualifier tournament in Japan in April/May. An onerous task indeed.
Just 70 minutes separates the South African men’s hockey team from earning a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
SA meet eight-time Olympic Games gold medallists India in the 4 pm Champions Challenge semi-final at Randburg Hockey Stadium Saturday (live on SuperSport) and are just one win away from fulfilling the stringent requirements of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
SA’s Olympic governing body, not satisfied that winning the Africa Olympic Qualifier tournament was sufficient proof of the team’s ability to compete for a medal in London, set a further hurdle for the team. Reach the final of Champs Challenge and your ticket to London is assured.
Failing that, SA have one last chance for London if they win the final Olympic Qualifier tournament in Japan in April/May. An onerous task indeed.
Fifth is no piped dream...
MALAYSIA will be looking to salvage some pride in the Champions Challenge I, when they square off against Poland for the fifth spot in South Africa today.
After a disastrous 5-4 golden goal defeat to India, Malaysia bounced back the very next day to beat Japan 2-1, with both the world class goals scored by 20-year-old Faizal Saari off solo attempts.
And today, Poland will be in their path to achieving their target of finishing fifth, and claiming a spot in the next Champions Challenge I.
Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) general manager Maninderjit Singh confirmed yesterday that the top-five teams will remain in Challenge I, while the bottom three will be relegated to Challenge II.
“We have much more than the target at stake against Poland, as Maninderjit has told us that the team which finishes fifth will remain in the first tier, while three teams will be relegated to the second tier,” said team manager George Koshy.
The last time Malaysia saw Poland playing was in the 2009 Champions Challenge II in Dublin, where the Polish stunned for form-book and became champions.
However, Malaysia and Poland were in different groups: “Basically, Poland has about the same players who gave them the Challenge II gold in Dublin. It is an experienced side but the mood in the Malaysian camp is good, and we should have another winning experience,” said Koshy.
Goalkeeper S. Kumar, normally a steady hand between the posts, admitted that his form against India was among the reasons why Malaysia are not in the semis, but fighting for fifth.
“I haven’t been very consistent in the tournament and I felt so bad against India because the rest of the squad were fantastic. It was a bad day.
“But we’re all feeling a lot better after beating Japan as it would have been a disaster playing off for 7/8th place. They (Japan) are a much improved team and never easy to beat but we wanted to win so badly,” said Kumar on the official Champions Challenge website.
Kumar, with 182 caps, and numerous awards to his name, is ready to help his mates claim the fifth spot.
“We’ve set our sights on finishing fifth and maintaining our world ranking of 14th. We’re definitely a much happier squad today (after beating Japan)!”
RESULTS: Semi-finals -- Argentina 2 Belgium 2 (Belgium win 3-2 shootout); India 4 South Africa 2.
SUNDAY: Fifth-Sixth: Malaysia v Poland (5.30pm); Seventh- Eighth: Canada v Japan (3pm).
After a disastrous 5-4 golden goal defeat to India, Malaysia bounced back the very next day to beat Japan 2-1, with both the world class goals scored by 20-year-old Faizal Saari off solo attempts.
And today, Poland will be in their path to achieving their target of finishing fifth, and claiming a spot in the next Champions Challenge I.
Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) general manager Maninderjit Singh confirmed yesterday that the top-five teams will remain in Challenge I, while the bottom three will be relegated to Challenge II.
“We have much more than the target at stake against Poland, as Maninderjit has told us that the team which finishes fifth will remain in the first tier, while three teams will be relegated to the second tier,” said team manager George Koshy.
The last time Malaysia saw Poland playing was in the 2009 Champions Challenge II in Dublin, where the Polish stunned for form-book and became champions.
However, Malaysia and Poland were in different groups: “Basically, Poland has about the same players who gave them the Challenge II gold in Dublin. It is an experienced side but the mood in the Malaysian camp is good, and we should have another winning experience,” said Koshy.
Goalkeeper S. Kumar, normally a steady hand between the posts, admitted that his form against India was among the reasons why Malaysia are not in the semis, but fighting for fifth.
“I haven’t been very consistent in the tournament and I felt so bad against India because the rest of the squad were fantastic. It was a bad day.
“But we’re all feeling a lot better after beating Japan as it would have been a disaster playing off for 7/8th place. They (Japan) are a much improved team and never easy to beat but we wanted to win so badly,” said Kumar on the official Champions Challenge website.
Kumar, with 182 caps, and numerous awards to his name, is ready to help his mates claim the fifth spot.
“We’ve set our sights on finishing fifth and maintaining our world ranking of 14th. We’re definitely a much happier squad today (after beating Japan)!”
RESULTS: Semi-finals -- Argentina 2 Belgium 2 (Belgium win 3-2 shootout); India 4 South Africa 2.
SUNDAY: Fifth-Sixth: Malaysia v Poland (5.30pm); Seventh- Eighth: Canada v Japan (3pm).
Friday, December 2, 2011
Find the missing link fast
MALAYSIA learnt a bitter Indian lesson in the quarter- finals of the Champions Challenge I in South Africa, and now have three months to add the missing spice in their game.
It was evident that after bouncing back from being down 2- 0, to leading 4-2 with six minutes remaining in the match, that Malaysia lacked a captain’s presence to control the match tempo.
Even India were surprised with the ease they scored the two goals to take the match into extra-time, and then nail the winner off a last minute penalty corner.
Malaysia were skippered by Radzi Rahim when they lost to Canada 3-1, and then the arm-band went to Madzli Ikmar in the Japan (drew 2-2), Argentina (lost 502) and India (lost 5-4) matches.
But it looked like Malaysia only gave their best when playing against India, but in the end, it still boiled down to missing a strong player to control and dictate the pace as the match warrants.
“It was heartbreak in the end as we failed to take control of the match after leading 4-2. The pace should have been slowed down, with Malaysia taking control of the match and dictating the pace, but that did not happen.
“However, all is not lost as we have three months to rectify some of the problems that were spotted in South Africa, and be better prepared for the Olympic Qualifiers next year,” said Malaysian team manager George Koshy.
Malaysia will first play in the Azlan Shah Cup in February, and then the Olympic Qualifier on March 11-18 in Dublin.
Dublin will offer a single ticket to London 2012, and Malaysia ranked 14th, must beat world No 6 South Korea, Ireland (17th), Russia (20th), Chile (24th) and Ukraine (31st).
In South Africa, Malaysia scored a total of nine goals and three were from Amin Rahim, two from Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, three from Azlan Misron, and one from Izwan Firdaus.
Strikers Hafifi Hafiz, Faizal Saari and Firhan Ashari all had their moments, but wasted a handful of sitters which could have turned the tide for Malaysia.
The only golden lining is that the team management has three months to rectify the chinks, or Malaysia are going to loose another Olympic moment, which the hockey team last tasted in Sydney 2000.
In the Fifth-Eighth playoff yesterday, Malaysia beat Japan 2-1 with both goals scored by Faizal Saari.
SATURDAY: Semi-finals -- Belgium v Argentina, South Africa v India.
It was evident that after bouncing back from being down 2- 0, to leading 4-2 with six minutes remaining in the match, that Malaysia lacked a captain’s presence to control the match tempo.
Even India were surprised with the ease they scored the two goals to take the match into extra-time, and then nail the winner off a last minute penalty corner.
Malaysia were skippered by Radzi Rahim when they lost to Canada 3-1, and then the arm-band went to Madzli Ikmar in the Japan (drew 2-2), Argentina (lost 502) and India (lost 5-4) matches.
But it looked like Malaysia only gave their best when playing against India, but in the end, it still boiled down to missing a strong player to control and dictate the pace as the match warrants.
“It was heartbreak in the end as we failed to take control of the match after leading 4-2. The pace should have been slowed down, with Malaysia taking control of the match and dictating the pace, but that did not happen.
“However, all is not lost as we have three months to rectify some of the problems that were spotted in South Africa, and be better prepared for the Olympic Qualifiers next year,” said Malaysian team manager George Koshy.
Malaysia will first play in the Azlan Shah Cup in February, and then the Olympic Qualifier on March 11-18 in Dublin.
Dublin will offer a single ticket to London 2012, and Malaysia ranked 14th, must beat world No 6 South Korea, Ireland (17th), Russia (20th), Chile (24th) and Ukraine (31st).
In South Africa, Malaysia scored a total of nine goals and three were from Amin Rahim, two from Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, three from Azlan Misron, and one from Izwan Firdaus.
Strikers Hafifi Hafiz, Faizal Saari and Firhan Ashari all had their moments, but wasted a handful of sitters which could have turned the tide for Malaysia.
The only golden lining is that the team management has three months to rectify the chinks, or Malaysia are going to loose another Olympic moment, which the hockey team last tasted in Sydney 2000.
In the Fifth-Eighth playoff yesterday, Malaysia beat Japan 2-1 with both goals scored by Faizal Saari.
SATURDAY: Semi-finals -- Belgium v Argentina, South Africa v India.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Malaysia blown away in sudden-death
MALAYSIA lost a two-goal advantage, and then were beaten to the semi-finals by a golden goal from India in the Champions Challenge I in South Africa yesterday.
The 5-4 defeat will now see them play in the fifth-eighth bracket either against Japan or South Africa, who were playing a late quarter-finals match.
Malaysia were in control of the match, but two penalty corner strikes from Sandeep Singh saw them trailing much of the first half.
India only won two penalty corners as they lost the midfield battle, but still Sandeep beat goalkeeper S. Kumar in the eighth and 24 minutes with powerful drag flicks,
Malaysia only won one penalty corner in the 15th minute, but Amin Rahim’s tame flick was parried away easily.
However, with two minutes remaining before the breather, a pass from Shukri Mutalib was connected home by 22-year-old Izwan Firdaus and Malaysia went into the dressing room to plot for more goals.
India, who picked up three yellow cards and one green in 35 minutes, did look more indisciplined than dangerous in their field attacks.
Malaysia rose to the occasion in the second half and scored three goals to take a 4-2 lead, before crumbling in the last 10 minutes of the match to allow India to equalise and take the match into extra-time sudden death.
Azlan Misron scored a field goal in the 42nd to level the score at 2-2, and in the 46th minute Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin took Malaysia to the front for the first time in the match.
Goal number four was duly converted by Azlan in the 56th minute and India looked beaten for the moment.
However, strikes from Sunil Sowmarpet and Yuvraj Walmiki took the match into sudden-death.
And R. Raghunath turned hero for India with a sudden-death goal off a penalty corner attempt after the final extra-time hooter went off.
RESULTS -- Quarter-finals: Malaysia 4 India 5 (sudden-death goal), Belgium 4 Canada 0, Poland 1 Argentina 5; South Africa 3 Japan 2.
The 5-4 defeat will now see them play in the fifth-eighth bracket either against Japan or South Africa, who were playing a late quarter-finals match.
Malaysia were in control of the match, but two penalty corner strikes from Sandeep Singh saw them trailing much of the first half.
India only won two penalty corners as they lost the midfield battle, but still Sandeep beat goalkeeper S. Kumar in the eighth and 24 minutes with powerful drag flicks,
Malaysia only won one penalty corner in the 15th minute, but Amin Rahim’s tame flick was parried away easily.
However, with two minutes remaining before the breather, a pass from Shukri Mutalib was connected home by 22-year-old Izwan Firdaus and Malaysia went into the dressing room to plot for more goals.
India, who picked up three yellow cards and one green in 35 minutes, did look more indisciplined than dangerous in their field attacks.
Malaysia rose to the occasion in the second half and scored three goals to take a 4-2 lead, before crumbling in the last 10 minutes of the match to allow India to equalise and take the match into extra-time sudden death.
Azlan Misron scored a field goal in the 42nd to level the score at 2-2, and in the 46th minute Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin took Malaysia to the front for the first time in the match.
Goal number four was duly converted by Azlan in the 56th minute and India looked beaten for the moment.
However, strikes from Sunil Sowmarpet and Yuvraj Walmiki took the match into sudden-death.
And R. Raghunath turned hero for India with a sudden-death goal off a penalty corner attempt after the final extra-time hooter went off.
RESULTS -- Quarter-finals: Malaysia 4 India 5 (sudden-death goal), Belgium 4 Canada 0, Poland 1 Argentina 5; South Africa 3 Japan 2.
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