Former captains raring to contribute..

TWO former national skippers will be involved in the intense eight-corner fight for four vice-president’s posts in the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) elections on Oct 31.
Both are Olympians who played alongside each other, and while Ow Soon Kooi chose to leave the police force early, Superintendent Mohindar Singh will retire in a year-and-a- half’s time.
Soon Kooi received four nominations, while Mohindar one, and they will be up against three incumbents and three new challengers.
Incumbents Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Datuk Rahim Ariff and M. Gobinathan received eight, nine and six nominations each.
And the other three challengers are Johari Abdul Aziz (three), Rahim Ahmad (one) and Manjit Majid Abdullah (four).
“I am where I am today because of hockey and my main agenda to stand for election is to give back to the sport which I love,” said businessman Soon Kooi.
Soon Kooi and Mohindar played together in the 1976 Montreal Olympics where Malaysia finished eight out of 11 teams. Malaysia beat Argentina 2-0 then, and M. Mahendran scored in the 68th minute while Soon Kooi scored in the 69th minute.
As for Mohindar: “My whole live has revolved around the sport, and I also started the Police Hockey Association and we fielded a team in the Malaysia Hockey League.
“There were certain restrains which saw me relinquish the president’s post and I am now the deputy president of the Association,” said Mohindar.
Both the skippers have been keeping a close watch on the national team, and feel if they win in the elections, their work is cut out for the next four years.
“From what I watched on television during the Com monwealth Games, there is still much work to do to improve the team’s world ranking. For one, the national side lacks depth on the bench and this indicates the talent pool is shrinking,” said Sook Kooi.
Mohindar feels the same: “I have volunteered my time, with he knowledge that there is much work to do in the next four years if I am elected. For starters, we need to have a bigger pool of talent to select from, if we want to achieve results in the next decade.”
The post of deputy president will see a four corner fight among incumbent Nur Azmi Ahmad (four nominations), MHF vice-president Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema (two), former deputy president Tunku Majid Sultan Iskandar (two) and former hockey player Abdul Hadi (One).
The president, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, was returned unopposed when nominations closed on Friday.

Four for deputy, eight for veep battle

PIC: Former national skipper Ow Soon Kooi received four nominations for the vice-president's post.

TENGKU Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was returned unopposed as president of the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) when nominations closed yesterday.
However, the deputy president’s post will see a four-corner battle, while eight hopefuls will vie for the four vice-pres ident’s posts.
There will not be elections to pick MHF secretary and treasurer on Oct 31, as amendments to their constitutions will see the two officials appointed.
“I hope state affiliates will elect officials that can input fresh ideas and are committed towards improving our standard of hockey. There is definitely much work to be carried out in the next four years,” said Tengku Abdullah.
Incumbent deputy president Nur Azmi Ahmad will face three challengers from MHF vice-president Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema, former deputy president Tunku Majid Sultan Iskan dar and former hockey player Abdul Hadi.
Tunku Majid also stood for the deputy president’s post in the last elections in 2008 but lost 26-14 to Nur Azmi. Two other challengers, Datuk Cheema and Ken Pereira withdrew from the race at the eleventh hour.
When Tunku Majid was asked about his nominations: “I will have a talk with the states that nominated me, and then decide on the next course of action.”
Nur Azmi received four nominations, Datuk Cheema two, Tunku Majid two and Abdul Hadi one.
In the vice-president’s battle, incumbents Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Datuk Rahim Ariff and M. Gobinathan received eight, nine and six nominations each.
The newcomers are Ow Soon Kooi (four), Johari Abdul Aziz (three), Superintendent Mohinder Singh (one), Manjit Majid Abdullah (four) and Rahim Ahmad (one).
MHF secretary Hashim Yusoff said: “The nominees have two weeks to decide if they want to stand or not, and the elections will be held on Oct 31, after which a council meeting will be immediately held to select committee chairper sons.”

Perak throw weight behind Abdul Hadi

IPOH, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- The Perak Hockey Association (PHA) has nominated former national skipper Mohamad Abdul Hadi to contest the post of Deputy President during the Malaysian Hockey Federation's (MHF) biennial general meeting on October 30.
PHA had during a meeting also decided to nominate its President Datuk Abdul Rahim Mat Ariff to defend his vice president's post together with two other incumbents, Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, M. Gobinathan and Au Soon Koi.
The PHA spokesperson said Abdul Hadi, the PHA Deputy President for the past six years, would face incumbent Nur Azmi Ahmad for the Deputy President's post.
Meanwhile, PHA had also proposed Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah who took over from Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor in 2008, to be retained as President.
-- BERNAMA

Eight degrees hotter for India

Chris Ciriello, Simon Orchard, veteran Jamie Dwyer and Glenn Turner also contributed goals on either side of halftime against a clueless Indian defence. —AFP Photo
Australian women's hockey team members celebrate after winning the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

WORLD champion Australia capped its fourth successive Commonwealth Games gold medal win by thrashing India 8-0 in the men’s field hockey final Thursday, silencing a capacity crowd that came hoping for an upset win for the host nation.
Jason Wilson and Luke Doerner scored two goals apiece, while Chris Ciriello, Simon Orchard, veteran Jamie Dwyer and Glenn Turner also contributed goals on either side of halftime against an outclassed Indian defense.
It was India’s biggest ever defeat in international tournament after losing the 1982 Asian Games final to Pakistan 7-1 at the same venue.
The gold medal completed a perfect year for the Kookaburras, who also won the World Cup in March and the Champions Trophy in August.
Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were among a capacity crowd of 19,000 at the MDC Stadium, but they had little to cheer their home team.
New Zealand defeated European champion England 5-3 on penalty strokes to clinch bronze medal after both teams were level at 3-3 in regulation time and the extra time could not produce a golden goal.
“We were effective in our defense and also took our chances effectively in attacking circle,” Dwyer said. “After that (4-0) halftime lead, it was all over.”
Early morning heat affected the home team more than the Australians as India had played all its pool matches under floodlights and also won the semifinal against England on Tuesday afternoon.
Wilson’s reverse strike from the top of the circle shot the Kookaburas ahead in 19th minute and only two minutes later Ciriello rasping drag flick off second penalty corner went into top of the net.
“They haven’t played in this heat and it’s difficult to catch up once you take a two goals lead in these conditions,” Dwyer said.
Australia continued its charge with Wilson neatly deflecting the ball into the board and Luke Doerner made it 4-0 off a short corner just before the halftime.
The home crowd started to leave the stadium after the break — and Australia scored four more goals in the last 18 minutes.
“We committed mistakes one after the other and it cost us in the end,” Indian forward Arjun Halappa said.
Earlier, England forward Simon Mantell scored a hat-trick against New Zealand but Kiwis took the bronze by winning the third place playoff on penalty strokes.
After the score was locked at 3-3 and extra time failed to produce a golden goal, New Zealand was on target with all its five shots from the spot and goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex brilliantly stopped Adam Dixon’s third penalty stroke to clinch 5-3 win for the Kiwis.
Simon Mantell, who scored in the first half, had pushed the playoff into extra time with two late goals to draw level.
“We had fought hard for nearly two weeks and it’s great to have something in the end,” New Zealand captain Phil Burrows said. “It was a great game and I think the crowd had their money worth.”
New Zealand capitalized on both chances in the first 15 minutes when Dean Couzins converted an eighth-minute penalty stroke and Nick Haig sounded the board with an angular shot from the right flank.
England pulled one back when Mantell scored off a powerful reverse flick in the 25th minute.
New Zealand widened the lead in the 37th when Hayden Shaw was on target off the second penalty stroke, but was then reduced to 10 men when Steve Edwards was temporarily suspended for unintentionally hitting England skipper Barry Middleton in the face.
Edwards’ exit provided enough space for England’s forwards to penetrate the New Zealand defense time and again with Mantell brother — Simon and Richard — combining well to force the game into extra time.
Simon Mantell scored with deft touch from close range in the 57th minute and then completed his hat-trick nine minutes from time with a hard deflection that flew into the net.

Kg Pandan Gurdwara creates history

MHF vice-president Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema (centre) with Malaysian soccer legend Santokh Singh at the opening of the futsal/hockey/netball court at Wada Gurdwara Kampung Pandan.
Gatka (Sikh martial art) performance at the cement hockey/futsal court opening.
Traditional music before the official opening of the cement futsal/hockey/netball court.

EDITORS NOTE: It is a challenge to attract Sikh youth to Gurdwaras these days. Kg Pandan Gurdwara's small step should be emulated by Gurdwaras around the world, as sports is a great platform to guide those who have forgotten the route to their Gurdwaras.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Wada Gurdwara Kampung Pandan reached a new milestone when it launched a multi-purpose cement court at its premises on 10.10.10.
It became the first sports facility built in the premises of a gurdwara in Malaysia, and possibly in the world.
The RM35,000 cement court will be used for futsal, hockey and netball matches.
"As a sports loving faith, we decided to pass the hat around and collected enough money to build the cement court so that our children, and students around Kampung Pandan will be able to play futsal, hockey and netball at the gurdwara grounds," said former national hockey player Avtar Singh, who is also the organising chairman on Sunday.
The multi-purpose court was officially opened by Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) vice-president Datuk Dr. S.S. Cheema.
Also present at the opening ceremony were former football great Santokh Singh, national hockey captains DSP Mohinder Singh and Sarjit Singh Chaal, and the president of Malaysia- Singapore Sikh Sports Council, Datuk Sohan Singh Randhawa.
"This is the second such facility to be opened by Sikhs to promote sports in the country.
"The first was at Kelab Aman which received a tremendous response after it was launched a month ago.
"The Sikhs have the distinction of being great sportsmen in Malaysia, and with these facilities we will continue to support the nation's quest to become a sporting power in the world," said Cheema.
Cheema added there are plans to adopt a school in the Kampung Pandan area for its sport programme.
"There are many schools around this gurdwara, and we hope to adopt one and allow students to train and play at the cement court."
For information on coaching clinics at the multi- purpose court, contact Avtar Singh at 017-3565 180 or Hardip Singh at 012-2967 878.