Malaysia rest six stalwarts for Darwin Open..

By Jugjet Singh

September 14, 2018 @ 11:31am

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will rest six regulars for the Darwin International which will be held on Sept 18-22 at the Marrara Hockey Stadium in Australia.
  The tournament will also see world No 1 Australia, No 2 Argentina and Asian Games champions Japan in action.
  And the six who replaced the stalwarts are goalkeepeer Hafizuddin Othman, Najib Hassan, Ashran Hamsani, Ramadan Rosli, Haziq Samsul and Norsyafiq Sumantri.
   The tournament will also see coach Stephen van Huizen opting out, as he will be attending to a family member's medical situation.
   Amin Rahim will be the chief coach, assisted by Nasihin Nubli and Technical Director Terry Walsh.
  The six who will stay back and undergo rehabilitation are Sukri Abdul Mutalib, Faizal Saari, Marhan Jalil, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Nabil Fiqri and S. Kumar.
   Amin, a former international, took up the challenge with an open heart.
   "The six were left out because some of them are carrying injuries after the Asian Games, while some were rested ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy in Oman and the World Cup.
   "Looking at the silver lining, this is a good chance for the six fringe players to fight for a spot in the national team in a high-octane International Friendly," said Amin.
  MALAYSIA: Hairi Rahman, Hafizuddin Othman, Razie Rahim (skipper), Syed Syafiq Cholan, Azri Hassan, Faiz Helmi Jali, Najib Abu Hassan, 
Meor Azuan Hassan, Fitri Saari, Joel Samuel Van Huizen, Ashran Hamsani, Amirol Aideed Arshad, Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi, Ramadan Rosli, 
Firhan Ashari, Shahril Saabah, Haziq Samsul, Norsyafiq Sumantri.

Podium: Some need it more than others..

By Jugjet Singh

September 12, 2018 @ 7:36pm

THIS article is not biased against any sport, but just stating facts as they stand today.
  The Podium Programme will come under the microscope over the next two days, to chart a fresh perspective in what is perceived by many as a failed venture to uplift the image of Malaysia as a sporting nation.
  Among those invited are Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, National Sports Institute CEO Dr Khairi Zawi, former Podium director Tim Newenham and Olympic Council of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria.
  Also on the list are the heads of the respective national sports associations (NSAs) involved with the programme.
  The interesting part is not the opening, but the closing agenda as the two-day event will end with a presentation of overall reports and recommendations.
  Here is where the NSAs involved, should be realistic and not get emotional, and not presenting their case just for the sake of continuing to receive funding for their athletes.
  For, even the layman knows that at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Malaysia’s realistic chances of winning medals will come from diving, cycling and badminton athletes.
  Podium, or whatever name is it called after the post mortem, must continue supporting these three sports to achieve Malaysia's dream of winning its first Olympic gold medal.
  And where does that leave the other sports?
  It leaves them in the cold, except for some which are world class and are trying to make a comeback at the highest level after decades of trying.
  Hockey comes to mind, as well as medal potential taekwondo and Olympic newcomer karate.
  While there are only a handful of athletes and officials to take care of in karate and taekwondo, hockey is a 16-member team sport (only for the Olympics, in other games, 18 are allowed to be registered) which needs a host of coaches and back-up crew. In hockey, Malaysia are ranked 12th in the world, have qualified for the World Cup, and are ranked second in Asia after coming as close as 20 seconds to winning a historic Asian Games gold, as well as qualifying for the Olympics on merit.
  But they failed, not for want of trying, but want of a better ending script. Hockey will be involved with a last-gasp measure to qualify for the Olympics and simply put — they need sports science help more than any other sport right now.
  So, the Podium Programme must end its post mortem by considering not only the medal potentials, but also sports which have a world standing and have been shakers and movers for decades.
  Hockey is one which deserves to continue standing at the top of the Podium Programme, with others who are deemed fit by those who hold the money bag.
  If anybody thinks this article is in favour of any sport, read the intro again.

Easy group for Malaysia in Youth Olympics..

By Jugjet Singh

September 8, 2018 @ 5:12pm

PIC: Malaysian men's hockey 5s coach Wallace Tan (right) did not reply to text messages, or answer phone calls.

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) Friday released groupings for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires on Oct 7-14, and Argentina are expected to give Malaysia the toughest time in Group A.
  The other teams in Malaysia's way are Mexico, Poland, Vanuatu and Zambia.
  In Group B are defending champions Australia, silver medallists Canada, Austria, Bangladesh, India and Kenya.
  Malaysian men's coach Wallace Tan did not reply to text messages, or answer phone calls.
  According the the FIH website: "Taking place in the Youth Olympic Park in the southern area of the city, the Hockey 5s events are set to take centre stage with hosts Argentina expected to attract large numbers of local fans, renowned for their passionate support of the sport.
  "The last edition of this event in Nanjing, China in 2014, saw Australia win gold and Canada silver in the men’s event, with China winning gold and Argentina bronze in the women’s event."
  The Malaysian women failed to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games, while the men will be making their debut.
  In the Bangkok Qualifier, Malaysia men edged South Korea 5-4 in a sudden-death penalty shootout after regulation time in the semi-finals ended 4-4.
  Malaysian girls lost 4-2 to India in the semi-finals. Only the finalists qualify automatically for the finals in Buenos Aires.
  The men will open accounts against Vanuatu on Oct 7, followed by Mexico, Zambia, Argentina and Poland.
  Top-four in each group qualify for the quarter-finals, and going by form, Malaysia are expected to play in the knock-out stage.

Nor Saiful Zaini: Buck up defence in second lifeline...

PIC: Nor Saiful Zaini -- He is a three-time Olympian who competed in the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics.

By Jugjet Singh

September 7, 2018 @ 7:36pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Olympian Nor Saiful Zaini shed a tear for Malaysia when the men's hockey team failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

  In an epic Asian Games final, Japan came back from the dead to claw back from 2-5 to draw 6-6 and then win the shoot-out 3-1.
  Now, Malaysia will have to go through another qualifier where the chances of playing in the Olympics is slimmer.
  "I could not believe my eyes when our boys gave away a 5-2 lead and failed to qualify for the OLympics. I was in tears, as it has been 18 years since we last played at that level," said Nor Saiful.
  It was back in 2000, when Nor Saiful and team-mates beat Japan 2-1 in the Osaka Olympic qualifier to play in Sydney.
  "It was also Japan back then, and they held us to a 1-1 draw until the 63rd minute (it was 70 minutes then) but Kuhan scored off a penalty corner and we held on to dear life by placing a proper defending strategy," said Nor Saiful.
  And Nur Saiful believes that was what lacked in the Asian Games final.
  "The players forgot to place defensive barriers after taking a three-goal lead. They should have stopped Japan at the 50 yard and 25 yard -- but instead, they threw caution to the wind.
  "Back in Osaka in 2000, Japan did everything they could for six minutes after we took the lead, but we held on stoutly by placing barriers at every yard of the field.
  "And now, the Hockey Series is going to be tougher to play in, and I believe scoring goals would also not be as easy as in the Asian Games.
  "Defend, they have to defend well to keep the score down in the Hockey Series and then try for counters in the next Olympic qualifier," said the national juniors coach.
  Malaysia must finish top-two in the Hockey Series Finals which will be held on April 23-May 1 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil where seven other teams will be named later.
  And after that, Malaysia will be paired with another team based on rankings, in the 14-team Olympics Qualification Event either in October or November 2019.
  "It is a long and winding road to Tokyo 2020, and the team need to boost their defence if they want to make it," said Nor Saiful.

UniKL-Pistoia HC embrace new collaboration...

By Jugjet Singh

September 6, 2018 @ 3:48pm

KUALA LUMPUR: University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) reached a milestone with Pistoia Hockey Club of Italy in a simple meeting in Kuala Lumpur Monday.

  Both the clubs will work together in player exchange, recruitment, development and also coaching aspects.
  UniKL President and CEO Datuk Dr Mazliham Su'ud met with Pistoia HC's Technical Director Train Filippo as well as players Giordano Daniele and Masi Alessio to cement the collaboration.
  "Pistoia has agreed to use the UniKL logo on their playing jersies as well as their new stadium, and we will also help each other on many aspects to promote the sport at both countries," said Mazliham.
  This will be the fourth season that UniKL will be collaborating with Pistoia HC, thanks to former national player S. Selvaraju.
  Selvaraju, 33, will return to Pistoia HC for the fourth consecutive year and this time he will have a double role as coach-player.
  "This arrangements is to enhance UniKL's visibility at the international level as well as to provide a platform for aspiring athletes to develop and expose their talent at the highest level without neglecting their studies," said Mazliham.
  UniKL, the only hockey club in the country with their own stadium, plan to do exceptionally well in 2019 after 10 years venturing into hockey.
  "UniKL hockey were inspired and launched by Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah in 2009 and since its establishement we have won many junior level titles as well as provided many players for the junior as well as senior national teams.
  "The copletion of the stadium is a new chapter in our story, as besides using it as our home base for MHL (Malaysia Hockey League), we intend to hold age-group coaching clinics, a structured developemnt programme for our students and also hold leagues for clubs, schools, universities and comunities located around Bangi, Nilai Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Kajang and Putrajaya," said Mazliham.
  Pistoia HC's Technical Director Train Filippo said: "This visit is to strengthen our ties as international clubs which can help each other to become stronger."
  Pistoia play in Division Two and have more than a 100 players of all-levels as their members.