Gurdwara Cup: Perak break duck after 64 years

Caption: Perak Boys Under-18 hockey team who finished third and earned the crucial one point to give their contingent the Overall title for the first time in 64 years.

GRITTY Perak finally laid their hands on the coveted Gurdwara Cup Overall title when they edged Kuala Lumpur by one point at the Penang Sports Club last weekend.
  The Gurdwara Cup and Sikh Festival of Sports was at its 64th edition, and it was the first time in 64 years that Perak won the Overall title.
  Nine contingents from Johor, Perak, Kedah, Royal Malaysian Police Sikhs Sports Association, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Singapore and hosts Penang competed in this annual event.
  Kuala Lumpur have been in total domination of the event and their only other defeat in the Overall title was in 2001 when Singapore dethroned them.
  And amazingly, the one point was delivered late into the tournament by Perak's Under-18 Boys' hockey team.
  Perak Sikh Union president Gurjeet Singh said: "It is real wonderful moment for Perak as its our first Overall title in 64 years and I credit all the players in every event who gave their best to achieve this milestone. The boys under-18 team finished third and were a little disappointed, but in the end, it was their one point which saw us edge Kuala Lumpur to the title."
  Perak accumulated 20 points while Kuala Lumpur had 19. The Gurdwara Cup will be held in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, next year.
  On hand to give moral support for Kuala Lumpur was the country's  Asian Games gold medallist ACP (rtd) Datuk Nashatar Singh.
  The highlight of the championship was the senior men's hockey final at the Penang Sports Club ground where debutant Royal Malaysian Police Sikhs Sports Association were sent packing 6-1 by Kuala Lumpur.
  Organising committee chairman Dr Terlochan Singh said for the first time the Royal Malaysian Police Sikhs Sports Association has been invited to participate in the Gurdwara Cup, one of the oldest sporting events in the country.

  Roll of Honour:
  Overall champions: Perak
  Best Sikh Sportman 2014: Navraj Singh Randhawa (athletics).
  Most Promising Sikh Sportman 2014: Jasraj Singh Dhanoa (cricket), Shaunvinder Singh (cricket) and Ishaan Singh (tennis).
  Hockey Fair Play Trophy (senior): Johor
  Football Fair Play Trophy (senior): Perak
  Netball Fair Play Trophy: Penang 


  RESULTS - Badminton: Final: Negri Sembilan 2 Perak 0; 3rd-4th: Selangor 2 Kuala Lumpur 0.
  Football (juniors) Final: Perak 3 Kuala Lumpur 0; 3rd-4th: Selangor 3 Singapore 0.
  Seniors Final: Kuala Lumpur 1 (4) Perak 1 (2); 3rd-4th: Negri Sembilan 0 (3) Selangor 0 (0).
  Golf: 1 Perak (304 pts), Singapore (309), 3 Selangor (314).
  Hockey (juniors) Final: Kuala Lumpur 4 Negri Sembilan 1; Bronze: Perak.
  Seniors Final: Kuala Lumpur 6 Royal Malaysian Police Sikh Sports Association 1; 3rd-4th: Perak 0 (6) Selangor 0 (5).
  Netball Final: Selangor 25 Kuala Lumpur 22; 3rd-4th: Penang 23 Perak 21.

Top eight confirmed in Buenos Aires

Spain, Korea and Japan join the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany, Argentina and Canada in the quarter-finals at the Argentina Hockey World League Semi-Final in Buenos Aires.

Argentina are back on top of pool B. The Leones defeated the Olympic champions Germany in an entertaining match with 4-3 thanks to a late goal from FIH rising star Gonzalo Peillat. Spain beat Austria 4-1 to secure a top four position in the pool. Earlier, Nick Haig’s last-minute goal had secured his Blacksticks a 1-1 draw against the pool A leaders from the Netherlands with Egypt missing out on the knock-stage after a 7-3 loss to Korea.

Match 13: Egypt v Korea 2-7 (2-2)

Egypt, who lost their first three matches in Buenos Aires, were fighting hard to avoid another defeat but their effort has not paid off. The Egyptians kept the match open for quite some time, but Korea eventually sealed the 7-2 victory in the last quarter.

Captain Amr Elhady opened the scoring on 8 minutes but the advantage was short-lived. Korea recovered quickly and equalised in the same minute through a penalty corner goal from Nam Hyunwoo before turning the score around with a beautiful field goal from Jang Jonghyun (13’). Egypt struck back through Mohamed Essam (26’) before halftime to level the contest at 2-2 at the break.

Hamad Atef (34’) put Egypt ahead 3-2 but Korea responded 10 minutes later when Nam (44’) scored from a penalty stroke. However, the Koreans saved their best performance for the last quarter, adding more goals through Lee Namyong (46’), Lee Jung Jun (50’), Kang Moonkyu (57’) and You Hyosik (58’) - the 7-3 win demonstrating their superiority.

Match 14: New Zealand v Netherlands 1-1 (0-1)

Nick Haig’s last-minute strike secured New Zealand a thrilling 1-1 against the Netherlands. As the match finished tied, both teams remain unbeaten at the Argentina Hockey Champions Trophy in Buenos Aires with the Dutchmen leading the pool because of the better goal difference.

The first half of action in Buenos Aires didn’t see many scoring opportunities for either side. However, the current Olympic and World Cup Silver medallists were first on the scoreboard when Jeroen Hertberger (21’) netted following a beautiful pass from Robbert Kemperman.

New Zealand worked hard to come back and the effort paid off when they won their first penalty corner with two minutes remaining. Nick Haig (60’) took responsibility and scored. The Black Sticks were close to adding another goal but a second penalty corner taken by Nick Hayward went wide. 

Match 15: Austria v Spain 1-4 (1-3)

Spain have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Argentina Hockey World League in Buenos Aires after beating Austria 4-1 in a key encounter. The world’s number 22 finished bottom of pool B having lost all four matches. Austria will now play off in Thursday’s 9th/10th classification match against Egypt.

The match started with high intensity and both teams enjoying possession. Spain won an early penalty corner which was superbly converted by Pau Quemada (6’) after the ball was deflected from the post. Andres Mir (17’) doubled the lead at the beginning of the second quarter before the Austrians pulled one back through a penalty corner goal from Dominic Uher (26’).

Xavi Lleonart (29’) added another penalty corner goal just before halftime to secure a convincing 3-1 lead at the break. In the third quarter Quemada (43’) increased the Red Stick's lead to 4-1. Austria fought hard in the last quarter but could not bridge the gap.

Match 16: Argentina v Germany 4-3 (2-2)

Argentina maintained their unbeaten streak on home soil at the Argentina Hockey World League Semi-Final in Buenos Aires. The Leones defeated the Olympic champions Germany in an entertaining match with 4-3 thanks to a late goal from FIH rising star Gonzalo Peillat. Argentina are now back on top of pool B.

The Leones were on fire in the first quarter scoring on 8 and 13 minutes. Pedro Ibarra put Argentina ahead with a penalty corner goal before Juan Gilardi doubled the lead with a penalty stroke goal. The Olympic champions leveled the score to 2-2 before halftime thanks to goals from Florian Fuchs (21’) and Christopher Zeller (24’). Zeller received a superb flick from Martin Häner and started a solo run to score a beautiful equaliser.

Play got hectic towards the end with both sides looking for the winner in the sold-out CeNARD stadium. Peillat put his Leones ahead 3-2 when he converted a penalty corner on 53 minutes. However, it took Germany just one minute to strike back through a penalty corner goal from Tobias Hauke (54’). The game-winning goal arrived with two minutes remaining. Argentina won another penalty corner which was fired home by Peillat to secure the 4-3 win.

@FIH_Hockey
#HWL2015 #RoadToRio

Malaysia's 18 Olympic hopefuls...

NATIONAL chief coach Tai Beng Hai finally named his final 18 for the World League Semi-finals, with three players having less than 30 caps.
  The WL Semifinals, on June 20-July 5 in Antwerp, Belgium, is an Olympic Qualifier with the top-four assured of making the trip to Rio de Janeiro next year.
  However, the young trio ahve played in many international tournaments before and are not wet behind the ears.
  Meor Azuan (29 caps), Shahril Saabah (29 caps) and Haziq Shamsul (17 caps) will carry a heavy burden of making sure Malaysia do not miss the Olympics again -- a platform the country last played in Sydney 2000.
  "Although the three have very few caps, they have played in the World Cup, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games before and they made the squad on merit," said Beng Hai.
  Haziq, Meor and Shahril played in the last Junior World Cup in New Delhi where Malaysia finished fourth, while Shahril also played in the Netherlands World Cup. Meor has also played in the Commonwealth Games.
  Malaysia are in Group B with China, Ireland, Great Britain and Belgium. While in Group A are Australia, Pakistan, India, France and Poland.
  Only four teams from each group play in the quarter-finals, and Malaysia must beat China and Ireland (their first two games) to be in a comfortable position and avoid Australia in the last-eight if they want to play in Rio de Janeiro.
  China are already in Europe playing friendlies, and yesterday they beat France 3-1. India also left for Europe yesterday.
  "We will leave for Europe on June 14 and play a few friendlies with the Dutch under-21 side as well as Brazil for warm-up and acclimatisation.
  "On China who are our first opponents, I believe they have improved much but still, we will be looking for our opening three points against them on June 21," said Beng Hai.
  And Malaysia have plenty of rest after China, as their next match against Ireland is three days away -- on June 25.   And Malaysia have plenty of rest after China, as their next match against Ireland is three days away -- on June 25. Malaysia play Belgium the next day and Great Britain on June 28.
  Controversial striker Faizal Saari, who went Awol for a month after the Singapore World League Round Two, was given another chance by the new management in the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
  He was not included in the Australian and Europe Tours, but Beng Hai said his fitness level is still good.
  "We did a fitness test on Sunday, and all the 18 showed good results," said Beng Hai.
  MALAYSIA: S. Kumar (gk), Roslan Jamaluddin (gk), Baljit Singh Charun, Razie Rahim (captain), Izwan Firdaus, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Faizal Saari, Izad Hakimi, Marhan Jalil, nabil Fiqri, Azlan Misron, Firhan Ashaari, Shahrun Nabil, Sukri Mutalib, Faiz Helmi, Meor Azuan, Shahril Saabah, Haziq Shamsul.

Subahan sings for harmony, Beng Hai whistles..

Paul McCartney 

Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony 
Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we? 
  We all know that people are the same where ever we go 
There is good and bad in ev'ryone, 
We learn to live, we learn to give 
Each other what we need to survive together alive. 
  Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony 

Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh lord why don't we? 

MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal and national coach Tai Beng Hai gave a discreet life-line to troubled striker Faizal Saari (pic).
  Speaking after the second Executive Board Meeting on Saturday, Subahan said harmony was back in the team leading to the World League Semi-finals in Belgium on June 20 to July 5.
  The WL Semis is an Olympic Qualifier: "I have met the players and had a heart-to-heart talk with them and I believe the players are in harmony with each other. Eight of them will get a last chance to play in the highest level, Olympics, and they know better than throwing away this golden opportunity as age is not on their side any more."
  Subahan also said since all the problems, including money, has been solved he believes the players will give their best in Belgium.
  As for Beng Hai, he is looking for a fresh start by erasing the past as he is in dire need of a striker as he has two players on the crock list.
  After a reboot, its back to factory settings for the team.
  "The players have been told to forget the past and play for their future. I have two players on the injury list and I need a striker, so Faizal is still in the running to make the Belgium squad provided he maintains his form and attitude.
  "He attends training and also has a better attitude now, and hopefully all his past will be forgotten and the other players will not hold it against Faizal," said Beng Hai.
  On the injury list are Ramadan Rosli who pulled a hamstring Hafiz Zainol has a hairline fracture on his right hand suffered in a car accident last week.
  Faizal went into controversy mode right after scoring 12 goals and being named as the Best Player in the Singapore World League Round Two in January.
  He went missing for a month, because he wanted the bonuses and match allowance owed to him. He was then dropped from the Australian Tour, and also a Tour of Netherlands and Belgium.
  When asked if Beng Hai was willing to take the risk of player-power disrupting his preparations like what happened at the World Cup last year, the chief coach said he does not have much of a choice.
  "I need a striker, and Faizal is still among the best. This is their shot at Olympic glory, and I believe they will not throw it away just for a grudge against one player," said Beng Hai.
  For the record, at least 10 players had approached the then MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to drop Faizal from the Netherlands World Cup squad, but their request was not entertained.
  And during the World Cup, Faizal rarely received the ball, and was a total washout.
  The players can't afford this attitude in Belgium, if they want to play in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Subahan sets high standards...

MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal yesterday set the standard for his Executive Board (EB) when a payout of RM282,000 was made to the men's and women's teams.
  The money was bonuses as well as training allowances owed to the players from 2013, 14 and 15.
  And now, his EB will work to repay the RM2.7m owed to various debtors.
  "The EB has agreed and endorsed the various committee chairmen today (yesterday) and they have one year to deliver on their KPI, after which a review will be done.
  "We have paid money owed to players (men and women) since 2013 and now I give myself six months to clear the RM2.7 million debt and start afresh," said Subahan.
  Subahan will chair the Finance and National Team management Committees: "I want to chair these two committees as they have big responsibilities. One is to clear our debts, and the other to see that Malaysian men and women start with golds at the Singapore Sea Games and then the men qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
  "It is important to stamp our domination in South East Asia again, while I am also fairly confident that the men will not dissapoint at the Belgium World League Semi-finals and give their best to earn a ticket to the Olympics.
  "Although this EB is only weeks old, still, we will give the present national team all the help they can get to qualify for Rio de Janeiro. After this we will work towards having a team at the 2020 Olympics as well," said Subahan.
  Men's deputy president George Koshy will head the Competitions Committee: "With his vast experience in running a Malaysia Hockey League team Goorge is the best in this department. To avoid a conflict of interest, he will release his position as president of Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club soon," said Subahan.
  And women's deputy president S. Shamala will head the Development Committee.
  One thing for sure, there were smiles all-round when players and officials went up to collect their envelopes from Subahan.
  "Now that match bonuses and allowances has been settled, I hope the players deliver on the pitch."
  The newly appointed chairmen have one week to submit a list of their members and start working towards their KPIs.
  MHC Committees: Subahan Kamal (Finance, National Team Management), Datuk Wan Ahmad Nizam (Marketing and Sponsorship), Datuk Ow Soon Kooi (Coaching), George Koshy (Competitions), S. Shamala (Development), Manjit Majid Abdullah (Indoor and Special Projects), Jadadish Chandra (Legal), S. Nagula (Media and Public Relations), Amarjit Singh (Umpiring), N. Radhakrishnan (High Performance), Satish Kumar (International Affairs), Nik Zarah Nik Kadir (Hockey 5s), Datuk Dr Shamsul Anwar (Medical).
  SAC Datuk Mohamed Adnan (Disciplinary), Datuk Azam Bakti (Ethics), Datuk T. Thavalingam (Appeal).
  Indipendendent members: Habibul Najmi and Ahmad Najmi (Two more to be named soon).