Thursday, July 2, 2015
Malaysia shoot themselves...
MALAYSIA blew their first Olympics ticket when they lost 3-2 to India, but still have another chance to make the trip to Rio de Janeiro next year.
They must now play for the fifth spot as which is still worth its weight in gold.
Double qualifications in continental championships is bound to happen, and now Malaysia must give their best for the fifth spot in the remaining two matches.
India scored in the third minute off Satbir Singh and Jasjit Singh scored two more off penalty corners in the 48th and 56th to hand India the semi-finals ticket.
However, with India having already qualified for the Olympics by becoming the Asian Games champions, there is bound to be a double qualification and thats why the fifth spot is important now.
The Malaysian goals were scored by Razie Rahim (15th) and Shahril Saabah (23rd).
Meanwhile, World No 1 Australia frolicked in scorching heat to edge Ireland 4-1, while Britain beat Pakistan 2-1 in their other quarter-finals.
Australia will play Britain in the semi-finals, but they have virtually checked into the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, as the top three are assured, while the fourth team will also qualify via double qualifications.
Mat Gohdes (22nd) opened scoring and at the half-time interview, both Ireland and Australian coaches Craig Fulton and Graham Reid respectively said their players must be patience in the second half.
Australia were more patience, and worked themselves up the ladder with three more beautiful goals to deny a fighting Irish their moment in the sun.
Jamie Dwyer (45th), Simon Orchard (55th) and Blake Govers (55th) wrapped up the match for Australia, while the Irish consolation was scored by Shane O'Donoghue (57th).
The Britain goals were scored by Chris Griffiths (fourth) and Alastair Brogdon (ninth) while the Pakistan goal was scored by Umar Bhutta (48th).
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Australia checks into semis, and Olympics...
WORLD No 1 Australia frolicked in scorching heat to become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the World League in Antwerp, when they edged Ireland 4-1 at the KHC Dragons Stadium.
And the Aussies also virtually checked into the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, as the top three are assured, while the fourth team will also qualify via double qualifications.
It was a windy and 32 degree Celsius day, and officially the first day of summer in Belgium, and the Irish wilted under the sun.
However, it was not before Ireland defended gallantly and Australia could only open scoring in the 22nd minute, when Mat Gohdes beautifully trapped a penalty corner rebound, and hit a cricket shot back into the goalmouth.
At the half-time interview, both Ireland and Australian coaches Craig Fulton and Graham Reid respectively said their players must be patience in the second half.
Australia were more patience, and worked themselves up the ladder with three more beautiful goals to deny a fighting Irish their moment in the sun.
Jamie Dwyer (45th), Simon Orchard (55th) and Blake Govers (55th) wrapped up the match for Australia, while the Irish consolation was scored by Shane O'Donoghue (57th).
Dwyer, 36 years old, will be playing in his fourth Olympics, after winning gold with Australia in 2004 Athens, and two bronze medals in 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London. He has also played in four World Cups since 2002 in Kuala Lumpur.
"We have qualified have we,? asked Dwyer who scored the second goal to easy some pressure.
"It wasn't easy as it was about 36 degrees on the pitch, and credit to Ireland who made it tough for us. Yes, it would be my fourth Olympics. We have achieved the first stage, now to go up higher in this tournament (winning gold)," said the 5' 7" Australian terror.
In the semi-finals, Australia will meet either Britain or Pakistan, who play in their other quarter-finals.
And the Aussies also virtually checked into the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, as the top three are assured, while the fourth team will also qualify via double qualifications.
It was a windy and 32 degree Celsius day, and officially the first day of summer in Belgium, and the Irish wilted under the sun.
However, it was not before Ireland defended gallantly and Australia could only open scoring in the 22nd minute, when Mat Gohdes beautifully trapped a penalty corner rebound, and hit a cricket shot back into the goalmouth.
At the half-time interview, both Ireland and Australian coaches Craig Fulton and Graham Reid respectively said their players must be patience in the second half.
Australia were more patience, and worked themselves up the ladder with three more beautiful goals to deny a fighting Irish their moment in the sun.
Jamie Dwyer (45th), Simon Orchard (55th) and Blake Govers (55th) wrapped up the match for Australia, while the Irish consolation was scored by Shane O'Donoghue (57th).
Dwyer, 36 years old, will be playing in his fourth Olympics, after winning gold with Australia in 2004 Athens, and two bronze medals in 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London. He has also played in four World Cups since 2002 in Kuala Lumpur.
"We have qualified have we,? asked Dwyer who scored the second goal to easy some pressure.
"It wasn't easy as it was about 36 degrees on the pitch, and credit to Ireland who made it tough for us. Yes, it would be my fourth Olympics. We have achieved the first stage, now to go up higher in this tournament (winning gold)," said the 5' 7" Australian terror.
In the semi-finals, Australia will meet either Britain or Pakistan, who play in their other quarter-finals.
Its now or never...
INDIA are the only team which arrived in Antwerp having already qualified for the Olympics, by virtue of being the Asian Games champions.
Their only interest here was to keep their world ranking intact, and also prepare for the World League Finals which they will host at the end of the year.
However, the World League Finals is just a sparring session among all the top three teams in both the world leagues and is not a qualifier for any tournament.
That is why coach Paul van Ass has been a smiling figure in Antwerp, with no pressure and lots of time to try our new players and new positions for some players.
India, Playing in Group A, India could only beat France 3-2, beat Poland 3-0, drew 2-2 with Pakistan, and were whacked 6-2 by Australia.
With two of their beat drag flickers VR Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh on the crock list, India were impotent in this tournament and hopefully, Malaysia take advantage of their low to qualify for the Olympics after a lapse of 16 years.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Sri Subahan Kamal, here to watch the matches, said: "We have four days to rest and recover before playing India in the most crucial match of the tournament. I have told them to supplement the rest with energy boosting food as well because its now or never for them to realise their Olympic dream."
Their only interest here was to keep their world ranking intact, and also prepare for the World League Finals which they will host at the end of the year.
However, the World League Finals is just a sparring session among all the top three teams in both the world leagues and is not a qualifier for any tournament.
That is why coach Paul van Ass has been a smiling figure in Antwerp, with no pressure and lots of time to try our new players and new positions for some players.
India, Playing in Group A, India could only beat France 3-2, beat Poland 3-0, drew 2-2 with Pakistan, and were whacked 6-2 by Australia.
With two of their beat drag flickers VR Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh on the crock list, India were impotent in this tournament and hopefully, Malaysia take advantage of their low to qualify for the Olympics after a lapse of 16 years.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Sri Subahan Kamal, here to watch the matches, said: "We have four days to rest and recover before playing India in the most crucial match of the tournament. I have told them to supplement the rest with energy boosting food as well because its now or never for them to realise their Olympic dream."
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Malaysia 0 Belgium 2
WORLD No 12 Malaysia gave world No 4 Belgium a tough time before being edged out 2-0 in the World League Semi-finals in Antwerp, Belgium yesterday.
However, it was a match which Malaysia were not expected to collect any points, and are already in the quarter-finals after beating china 3-2 and Ireland 4-2.
Malaysia took the game to Belgium in the first quarter, when they did not give away a single penalty corner or even shot at goal, and protected goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin with determined defending.
The national players played without fear, and had numerous semi-circle penetrations, but Belgium stood their ground as well.
The second quarter saw Malaysia defending in numbers and Belgium won their first penalty corner in the 27th and Tanguy Cosyns' high and powerful flick was easily palmed away by Roslan.
However, Belgium finally got their act together in the 37th minute when a lapse in defense saw Dorian Thiery score from close range.
And goal number number two followed suit the very next minute, when Gauthier Gougnard tapped in an airborne ball.
Malaysia won their first penalty corner of the match in the 50th minute, but Razie fails to convert, and the score stood until the final whistle.
RESULTS: Group A: Pakistan 2 India 2; Group B: Ireland 6 China 0, Malaysia 0 Belgium 2.
However, it was a match which Malaysia were not expected to collect any points, and are already in the quarter-finals after beating china 3-2 and Ireland 4-2.
Malaysia took the game to Belgium in the first quarter, when they did not give away a single penalty corner or even shot at goal, and protected goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin with determined defending.
The national players played without fear, and had numerous semi-circle penetrations, but Belgium stood their ground as well.
The second quarter saw Malaysia defending in numbers and Belgium won their first penalty corner in the 27th and Tanguy Cosyns' high and powerful flick was easily palmed away by Roslan.
However, Belgium finally got their act together in the 37th minute when a lapse in defense saw Dorian Thiery score from close range.
And goal number number two followed suit the very next minute, when Gauthier Gougnard tapped in an airborne ball.
Malaysia won their first penalty corner of the match in the 50th minute, but Razie fails to convert, and the score stood until the final whistle.
RESULTS: Group A: Pakistan 2 India 2; Group B: Ireland 6 China 0, Malaysia 0 Belgium 2.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Rab Rakha, Baljit...
BALJIT Singh son of Charun Singh is the last Sikh left standing in the Malaysian Speedy Tigers, and it could take another decade to groom a replacement.
Sikhs used to dominate hockey in Malaysia, but are now as rare as a white rhino, and Baljit is the lone Lion carrying on this proud tradition in the ongoing World League Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium.
Malaysia played two matches in Belgium and beat China 3-2 and Ireland 4-2 to qualify for the quarter-finals and are just a match away from qualifying for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
And if the ticket to Rio is clinched, Baljit’s achievement would be another feather in the turban of a long line of Malaysian Sikhs who have experienced hockey at the highest level.
But it was not easy for Baljit to reach the level he is in today. In fact, after helping Malaysia qualify for the World Cup, Baljit was dropped from the World Cup squad which played at the Hague, Netherlands, last year.
It was the most bitter part of his hockey career as his new coach K. Dharmaraj felt that Baljit was not good enough for the World Cup and replaced him with a German-Malaysian — Kevin Lim. Kevin Lim pulled a muscle two days before the World Cup started in a warm-up match at the Hague, and did not get a chance to represent Malaysia in the World Cup either.
This was just months after the previous coach Paul Revington only had praises for Baljit, who played the best hockey of his career to help Malaysia qualify for the World Cup.
But Baljit never gave up. He fought back into the team.
“It was really the most disappointing moment of my career,” he says, when reflecting on the how he had help Malaysia qualify for the World Cup and then not being selected to play in the in the tournament itself.
“But I kept improving my game by training hard, and claimed back my defenders position. Now, I will give everything I have to help Malaysia qualify for the Olympics.”
Baljit was brought back into the squad when the coaching musical chair stopped at its third song and Tai Beng Hai replaced K. Dharmaraj as coach.
Beng Hai’s believe in Baljit was justified when the lone Sikh played his best game yet, to defend Malaysia’s goalmouth against China and Ireland. Belgium and Britain are Malaysia’s next opponents, but Malaysia have already qualified for the quarter-finals with two matches in hand.
When asked where he got the strength to carry on after he was dropped from the World Cup squad, he gave a short rely: “Rab rakha.” [‘God the Protector’ or ‘God protects’].
Rab rakha on your Olympic dream, Baljit.
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