JAC 2015: No shame in 4-5 defeat

MALAYSIA blew an early lead to lose 5-4 to India in Group A of the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan Sunday.
  After a day's rest, the hosts meet Japan in their final pool match and its a must-win situation of they want to finish second in the Group.
  "There were moments of lapses which turned the match around for India, but I'm very proud of the way my boys played today (yesterday) and I am confident that they will rise against Japan to finish second in our group," said Malaysian coach Arul Selvaraj.
  Shahril Saabah scored a super reverse stick goal 45 seconds from the start, and Malaysia looked like they were about to maul India.
  But after a brilliant save by goalkeeper Ridzwan Azmi in the ninth minute, he made a schoolboy blunder in the 10th minute and Mandeep Singh punished Malaysia and drew level.
  This was the fastest match of the tournament, as even before India could settle down from celebrating their goal, Shahril struck yet again.
  The No 1 penalty corner flicker in the country, Shahril, scored a cheeky field goal in the 20th minute when he deflected home skipper Najib Hassan's slap-in from the top of the semi-circle.
  It was Shahril's third goal of the tournament, as he also scored against China on Saturday.
  India coach Harendra Singh, dissapointed that his goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya for failing to stop Shahril's second goal, replaced him with No 2 Suraj Karkera in the 27th minute.
  Malaysia took the game the India after the breather, but a lapse in defense saw Gurjant Singh handing his side yet another equaliser with a 40th minute reverse stick attempt.
  Malaysia were guilty of giving away easy penalty corners after that, and India finally took the lead in the 46th minute when Harmanpreet Singh blasted home a drive.
  And it was almost all over for Malaysia in the 56th minute, when Harmanpreet scored his second penalty corner, while Manddeep Singh made it 5-2 in the 61st minute.
  Sufi Ismat pulled one back a minute later to make it 5-3, and Malysia went on a rampage and made it 5-4 in the 66th minute when Shahril nailed his hat-trick.
  Meanwhile in Group B, Pakistan upset South Korea 3-0 and are poised to top the group as they have an 'easy' game against winless Oman on Tuesday to collect maximum points.
  Korea play Bangladesh last, but even if they win, they are set to end second in Group B.
  RESULTS: Group A: China 1 Japan 2, Malaysia 4 India 5.
  Group B: Pakistan 3 South Korea 0, Oman 4 Bangladesh 5.
  Nov 16: REST DAY


GROUP A 
            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
INDIA       2  2  0  0  7  5  6
MALAYSIA    2  1  0  1  8  5  3
JAPAN       2  1  0  1  3  3  3
CHINA       2  0  0  2  1  6  0

GROUP B
            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
PAKISTAN    2  2  0  0  6  1  6
S KOREA     2  1  0  1  5  5  3
BANGLADESH  2  1  0  1  6  7  3
OMAN        2  0  0  2  6  10 0

Jnr Asia Cup: Malaysia 4 China 0

THE National Juniors started on an impressive note when they beat China 4-0 in Group A of the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan Saturday.

  However, their true strength will be known today when they square off against tournament favourites India.

  India had beaten Malaysia 2-1 in the Sultan of Johor Cup.

  "Im vey happy not only with the score line, but also the way my boys played today. They knew when to press and when to hold the match and this is one reason why we could beat China with such a margin," said Malaysian juniors coach Arul Selvaraj.

  As for India: "I believe India is a matured side, as they don't play like Under-21 players and this will be our toughest game in Group A. We will be playing them for the second time in three weeks, and I believe our penalty corner battery will be ready to do more damage this time around," said Arul.

   Malaysia started on a nervous note, and even gave away the first penalty corner in the fifth minute to China but the post saved the blushes.

   And after failing to score off their first penalty corner, Malaysia took a 2-0 lead off their next two penalty corners.

   Najmi Jazlan's drive in the 14th minute almost tore the netting, and Shahril Saabah's powerful flick in the 21st minute gave Malaysia some breathing space.

   The forward line rarely took shots at goal, and with 10minutes to the half-time break, China were doing most of the attacking and only penalty corners separated both the sides at the half time hooter.

  Malaysia came out looking for more from the match, and finally nailed a field goal off Haziq Samsul in th 42nd minute.

  The goal not only assured Malaysia three points, but was also a moral boost for Haziq, who has played at the senior level, because he did not score a single goal in the Sultan of Johor Cup.

  And with seconds remaining in the match, Najmi again scored off a penalty corner and Malaysia earned a well deserved win.

  RESULTS: Group A: Malaysia 4 China 0, India 2 Japan 1.

  Group B: Pakistan 3 Bangladesh 1, South Korea 5 Oman 2.

  SUNDAY: Group A: China v Japan (6pm, Pitch I), Malaysia v India (8.15pm, Pitch I).

  Group B: Pakistan v South Korea (4pm, Pitch I), Oman v Bangladesh (4.30pm, Pitch II).

 Nov 16: REST DAY

GROUP A 

            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

MALAYSIA    1  1  0  0  4  0  3

INDIA       1 1  0  0  2  1 3

CHINA       1  0  0  1  0  4  0

JAPAN       1  0  0  1  1 2  0

GROUP B

            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

S KOREA     1  1  0  0  5  2  3

PAKISTAN    1  1  0  0  3  1  3

OMAN        1  0  0  1  2  5  0

BANGLADESH  1  0  0  1  1  3  0

Mirnawan: No easy matches in Kuantan

MALAYSIAN Juniors team manager Mirnawan Nawawi believes there will be no easy matches in the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan starting on Saturday.
  And the three-time Olympian has even dubbed Group A as the 'group of death'.
  "Malaysia are in 'group of death' as India, China and Japan will be fielding players who have the basics and skills to cause an upset if given the slightest advantage.
  "But on the same note, our players are primed to face the challenges thrown at them and qualify for next year's Junior World Cup," said Mirnawan.
  India as Junior World Cup hosts, have qualified, but will be the team to beat in Kuantan. Three other slots are available in the Junior Asia Cup, and Malaysia must reach the semi-finals to grab one.
  The hosts are defending champions, and went on to finish fourth in the last Junior World Cup which was also held in New Delhi in 2013.
  "As the champions, we need to keep our dignity intact and that means beating China in the first match on Saturday.
  "We had very little knowledge about China and also Japan, but after watching them training in Kuantan, we have an idea on how to overcome both these teams. China and Japan players are no pushovers, but can be beaten," said Mirnawan.
  As for India, Malaysia lost 1-2 to them in the Sultan of Johor Cup and they went on to finish as silever medallists while Malaysia claimed the bronze.
  "We know India, and they too know us, as we played a grueling match against them in the SOJC. India will be our toughest opponents in Kuantan," said Mirnawan.
  Malaysia need to finish among the top-two in Group A to have an easier quarter-finals passage against either Bangladesh or Oman. The other Group B teams are South Korea and Pakistan.
  All eight teams qualify for the last eight, and one win here will book a berth to New Delhi next year.
  For the record, Malaysia are not only the Junior Asia Cup defending champions, but also the highest ranked Asian team as they finished fourth in the Junior World Cup, while South Korea eighth, Pakistan ninth and India 10th.
  GROUP A: India, Malaysia, Japan, China.
  GROUP B: Korea, Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh.
  FIXTURES: Nov 14: Group A: Malaysia v China (6pm, Pitch I), India v Japan (8.15pm, Pitch I).
  Group B: Pakistan v Bangladesh (4pm, Pitch I), South Korea v Oman (4.30pm, Pitch II).
  Nov 15: Group A: China v Japan (6pm, Pitch I), Malaysia v India (8.15pm, Pitch I).
  Group B: Pakistan v South Korea (4pm, Pitch I), Oman v Bangladesh (4.30pm, Pitch II).
 Nov 16: REST DAY
 Nov 17: Group A: India v China (6pm, Pitch I), Japan v Malaysia (8.15pm, Pitch I).
  Group B: Oman v Pakistan (4pm, Pitch I), South Korea v Bangladesh (4.30pm, Pitch II).
  Nov 18: REST DAY
  Nov 19: Quarter-finals.

53rd Razak Cup: KL, Negri call for selections

NEGRI SEMBILAN and Kuala Lumpur will hold trials to select teams for the 53rd Razak Cup which will be held at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Nov 26-Dec 6.
  Negri will conduct open trials on Sunday at 6.30pm at the Seremban II Stadium and for information call coach S. Chandran at 016 3157113.
  As for Kuala Lumpur, open selections will be held on Monday and Tuesday evenings at the KLHA Stadium in Jalan Pantai.
  Other than KL-born players, those living in the City for five years are also eligible to attend trials. Call V. Rajamanickam at 012 2686944 for details.

Under 14: Sabah boys win maiden title

KUALA LUMPUR Girls' edged Selangor 3-2 to lift the National Under-14 hockey tournament title in Malacca yesterday.
   And in the Boys' tournament, Sabah and  Perak ended locked 2-2 after regulation time, and in the shoot out Sabah claimed their maiden Under-14 title by beating Perak 5-4.
  During regulation time, the Sabah goals were scored by Nasrul Syahkhir (24th) and Granson Noel(63rd), while the Perak goals were scored by Afiq Iqbal (31st) and Afsraf Iqbal in the 69th minute to take the match to shoot out.
   Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) Technical Director Terry Walsh was impresed with the boys standard, but not the girls.
    "I watched some of the matches, and for an Under-14 tournament, the boys were quite impressive especially playes from Sabah. But the same can't be said abut the girls," said Walsh.
     Results:  BOYS'   Final: Sabah 2 Perak 2 (Sabah win shoot out 5-4); Third-Fourth: Malacca 1 Johor 4.
     GIRLS' Final: Kuala Lumpur  3 Selangor 2 ; Third-Fourth: SIngapore 2 Sabah 4.