KL start on rusty note..

KUALA Lumpur started their Razak Cup Division One campaign on a rusty note when they could only edge Penang 3-1 at the Kuantan Stadium yesterday.
   The 19-time champions were blunt in penalty corners, as they could only score one rebound off the handful that came their way.
   “Not a very bright start, as the team were a little rusty in attack and also in penalty corners. We had many more chances to increase the score, but failed,” said Kuala Lumpur coach K. Rajan.
   However, Rajan is not overly worried with the slow start in Group B.
   “I am confident that as the tournament progresses, my team will become better with each match as we aim to win our 20th title in Kuantan,” said Rajan.
    The KL goals were scored by Nor Syafiq Sumantri (third) and Harvinder Singh (16th, 60th).
    And the Penang attempt was made by Azren Rizal in the sixth minute.
    In another Group B match, hosts Pahang fell 3-2 to Perak. The Perak goals were scored by Harmeet Singh (15th), Harris Fadilla (29th) and  Hafifi Hafiz (66th).
    Robert Alcantara (30th) and Ahmad Kazamirul (38th) scored for Pahang.
   

STANDINGS

Division Two

                      P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
POLICE           2  2  0   0   6  4  6
SELANGOR      1  1  0   0   9  1  3
FORCES          1  1  0   0   4  0  3
PERLIS            2  1  0   1   7  4  3
SABAH           2  0  0   2   2    7  0
KEDAH           2  0  0   2   2  14  0

DIVISION ONE

GROUP A

                         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
JOHOR              1   1   0  0  5  4   3
TGGANU           1   0   0  1  4  5   0
NEGRI               1   1   0  0  2  1   3
MALACCA         1   0   0  1  1  2   0


GROUP B

                        P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

K LUMPUR       1   1   0  0  3  1   3
PERAK             1   1   0  0  3  2   3
PAHANG           1   0   0  1  2  3   0
PENANG           1   0   0  1  1  3   0

   RESULTS: Division One A: Terengganu 4 Johor 5, Malacca 1 Negri Sembilan 2;  Group B: Perak 3 Pahang 2, Kuala Lumpur 3  Penang 1.
    TODAY: Division One A: Malacca v Johor (8pm, Pitch I), Negri Sembilan v Terengganu (8pm, Pitch II).
   Division Two: Kedah v Armed Forces (4pm, Pitch I), Perlis v Sabah (6pm, Pitch I), Selangor v Police (6pm, Pitch II).

Negri 9 select 9 young, 9 old guards...

NEGRI Sembilan listed nine juniors and nine retired  players in their quest to reach the Division One semi-finals of  the Razak Cup at the Kuantan Stadium.
    And although they also listed national goalkeeper S.  Kumar, he is not expected to see action as he is still  recovering from the Asia Cup fatique.
    The Division Two matches started on Friday, while the  more challenging Division One will see action from today.
    “We listed a balanced team as I feel that the juniors still  need guidence from former internationals like S. Kuhan,  Madzli Ikmar and Suhaimi Ibrahim,” said Negri coach S.  Chandran.
    Negri will meet Malacca in their opening Group A en counter.
    “We reached the semis last year and finished fourth, and  hope to play in the knock out stage again but finish higher,”  said Chandran.
    Negri are drawn in Group A with defending champion  Terengganu, Johor and Malacca while last year’s losing  finalist Pahang are in Group B with Kuala Lumpur, Perak and  Penang.
    Kuala Lumpur are holders of 19 Razak Cup tittes, with the  last one won in 2011. Last year, they only had a bronze to  show after being knocked out of the semi-finals by eventual  champions Terengganu.
   But Terengganu is also expected to limp around in Division  One this year, as their goal poachers Firhan Ashaari, and  brothers Faizal and Fitri are not available.
    Faizal left for the German League where he will play for  Berlin Hockey Club, while Fitri and Firhan are in training  with the national juniors for the Sultan of Johor Cup.
    RESULTS - Friday: Division Two: Armed Forces Selangor  (match abandoned), Police 3  Sabah 2, Kedah 1 Perlis 5.
    Saturday: Sabah 0 Armed Forces 4, Perlis 2 Police 3, Kedah  1 Selangor 9.
    FIXTURES: Today: Division One A: Terengganu v Johor  (8pm, Pitch I), Malacca v Negri Sembilan (8pm, Pitch II);  Group B: Perak v Pahang (6pm, Pitch I), Kuala Lumpur v  Penang (6pm, Pitch II).

Ritu Rani to skipper India in Asia Cup..

 
New Delhi (PTI): Veteran midfielder Ritu Rani will lead an 18-member Indian women's hockey team in the eighth Asia Cup to be played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September 21 to 27.
    "Hockey India Selectors BP Govinda, Surinder Kaur, Mamta Kharab, chief coach Neil Hawgood, coach IS Gill and scientific advisor Matthew Tredrea, alongwith government observer Harbinder Singh, selected the 18 players and six standbys during the trials conducted in Patiala on August 30 and 31," HI said in a press release.
   Ritu has 157 India appearances to her credit. The 18-member squad will have another midfielder Chanchan Devi Thokchom (88 caps) as the vice-captain.
   The team's training camp is has been underway in Patiala since August 8 as final preparations for the tournament. The team will depart for Malaysia on September 16.
    India are placed in Pool A with China, hosts Malaysia and Hong Kong China while Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei are placed in Pool B.
   India will open their campaign against Hong Kong China on September 21 followed by China on September 22 and hosts Malaysia on September 24.
    The Women's Asia Cup is the continental qualification tournament for the FIH Women's World Cup 2014 to be played in The Hague, The Netherlands, from May 31-June 14, 2014.
   Squad: Goalkeepers: Rajani Etimarpu, Savita Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Joydeep Kaur, Kirandeep Kaur, Sunita Lakra, Deepika, Namita Toppo, P Sushila Chanu, M N Ponnamma Midfielders: Ritu Rani (Captain), Chanchan Devi Thokchom (Vice-Captain), Soundarya Yendala, Lily Chanu Forwards: Poonam Rani, Rani, Vandana Katariya, Anuradha Devi Thokchom. Standbys: Sanarik Chanu, Asunta Lakra, Monika Malik, Navjot Kaur, Lilima Minz, Anupa Barla.

Cindy, Michelle claim sponsors tickets..

MALAYSIAN’S Cindy Lee-Pridgen and Michelle Koh  claimed the sponsor’s exemptions to the Sime Darby LPGA  Malaysia which  will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and  Country Club (KLGCC) on Oct 10-13.
   The Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia is a 72-hole stroke play, no  cut event, featuring a total of 62 stars from the LPGA Tour and  10 sponsor invites making up one of the strongest fields in  Asian golf.
     They achieved the feat at the end of the Local Qualifying  Tournament, played over 36 holes, which featured nine of  Malaysia’s top female golfers fighting for the coveted op portunity with 21 regional hopefuls.
    After recording a score of par 71 on the first day, the 37- year-old Cindy clinched victory with a final round score of 75  to finish with an aggregate total of 146 on the East Course at  the KLGCC.
    Coming in four shots behind, 23-year-old Michelle Koh  claimed her opportunity to play with the big stars after  scoring two consecutive rounds of 75, wrapping up with an  aggregate total of 150.
   Cindy, who received a sponsor invite to compete in the  tournament in 2010, said: “I shot two bogies and then a  double on 9 so not a great start but then made the turn and  am just really glad I a had such a good caddy this week. He  kept saying ‘I’ll pull the club and you just hit it’ so off we went  and it seemed to work.”
     “I’ll be looking to erase some bad memories of 2010 but will  focus on trying to get a little bit more distance on the drives  and work on my alignment between now and the tour nament. But I’m just delighted to be playing,” added the US  based Cactus Tour player.
    Michelle, a graduate from the 2013 Sime Darby LPGA  Development Programme was in cloud nine.
   “I couldn’t believe it when I was told that I had qualified –  I was just speechless. I find it a really tough course so I’m just  so excited to be playing here”.
    Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of Sime Darby Foundation  said: “We are very proud to have Cindy and Michelle rep resenting Malaysia against the very best women golfers at the  Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
    “Their achievement illustrates the hard work and prepa ration that they have put in for the qualifying tournament. As  they continue to train for the tournament, I hope this  opportunity will spur them to work even harder and show  themselves to be the true champions they are capable of.”
    Both players are joined by Yu-Shin Chang and Pei-Yun  Chien from Taiwan who both guaranteed their places after  winning the Regional Qualifying Tournament following a  three-way play-off with last year’s winner Ssu-Chia Cheng.  All three players carded 143 after 36 holes, with Ssu-Chia  Cheng dropping one shot to her compatriots on the 18th hole  play-off.
    The tournament will also see international golf stars  China’s Shanshan Feng, Norwegian Suzann Pettersen,  American Cristie Kerr and Korean stars So Yeon Ryu and  Jiyai Shin.
    Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No 1 and defending  champion Inbee Park will also defend her crown.

Sad state of Razak Cup..

THE Razak Cup starts today in Kuantan, and the usual  player-hunting and pinching is at its ugliest state, as the  quality pool is not big enough to cater for all states.
   And this has peeved national juniors coach K. Dharmatraj,  who feels states should just go with their youth, and not recall  old hands when there is not enough talent available.
    “My hockey career started at the Razak Cup when I was 16  years old, thanks to the vision of my late coach Razak  Leman.
    “He was brave enough to take teenagers for the tour nament, and even though Malacca did not win, but the real  winner turned out to be the country, as many youth from this  squad were noticed, and broke into the junior squad and  National B team, and eventually played for the country,” said  Dharmaraj.
   The timing of the Razak Cup is also incredible, as the  Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) fixed it right after  the Asia Cup, and two weeks from now the juniors would be  involved with the Sultan of Johor Cup.
    “Luckily I named my 18 players for the Sultan of Johor Cup  early and blocked them from playing in the Razak Cup for  fear of injury and fatigue.
    “It was also a move to give other players, especially youth,  a chance to represent their states and looking at how  intensely states are chasing for players now, it is sad that  some of the teams are going to rely on players who can’t even  make the MHL (Malaysia Hockey League) teams but don’t  want to field youth.
    “Sure, the old hands can keep the tournament running, but  youth would inject hope for a better future. We need state  administrators who are brave enough to field their youth  side, as this is what the Razak Cup should be all about in the  near future.
    “Give the youngsters a break. At least the officials can then  be proud of helping hockey, and can consider themselves as  part of the success of the national team when they do well,”  said Dharmaraj.
    The Division Two, with six teams, starts today, while the  Division One matches begin on Sunday.
   Division One A: Terengganu, Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan; Group B: Perak, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Penang.
    Division Two: Armed Forces, Selangor, Police, Sabah,  Kedah, Perlis.