Challenge II for Mas women

THE Malaysian women’s team will compete in their biggest international tournament this year at the Champions Chal lenge II in Kazan, Russia on June 21-27.
Malaysia, who were first reserve, were invited by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for the tournament after qualifier the Netherlands Antilles withdrew.
The other teams in the Champions Challenge II are Belgium, Ireland, Chile, India, Ukraine, Canada and Russia.
The Malaysian team, coached by Yahya Atan, are ranked 24th in the world.
This is the first time, the national women’s team are competing in a tournament of such repute.
Malaysian Women’s Hockey Association (MWHA) secre tary S.Shamala said the tournament will open new doors for the national team.
“It’s like a new dimension for us, which in a long run will help improve our world rankings and simultaneously create more opportunities to compete in higher level events. The tournament is one of the build ups towards the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. ,” said Shamala yesterday.
Shamala said the team, in preparing for the Champions Challenge II, will likely compete at the All-India Cham pionships next month.
“We have made arrangement with our counterparts in India and are awaiting reply,” she added.
The Champions Challenge II is also to gauge the national players before the Asian Cup in Bangkok, Thailand on Oct 6- 15.