A boost as Jiwa gets top marks

THE National Sports Institute (NSI) conducted a fitness test on Jiwa Mohan yesterday and the player was declared fit to represent Malaysia in the Asia Cup which starts in Kuantan tomorrow.
Coach Tai Beng Hai selected 19 players yesterday and another will be dropped by the time of the team managers meeting today as two players, who were in rehabilitation, have shown tremendous improvement.
"The MHF (Malaysian Hockey Federation) invited NSI as a neutral party to conduct a fitness test on Jiwa and he passed in the excellent category," said Beng Hai.
"I have named 19 players because Tengku (Ahmad Tajuddin) and Razie (Rahim), who did not play in the Azlan Shah Cup, were impressive in the recent friendlies we played. I will decide on the final 18 just before the team managers meeting." Jiwa last played for Malaysia in the 2008 Azlan Shah Cup, and then called it quits to concentrate on his work in Australia. But he has been actively playing in the Australian Hockey League.
Malaysia open their campaign against World No 5 South Korea tomorrow before meeting Bangladesh and then Japan.
In Group B are Pakistan, India and China.
There were very few changes from the line-up which played to a silver medal in the Azlan Shah Cup.
"The players are at their best, physically and mentally, and with a semi-final target in mind we must start well against South Korea," said Beng Hai.
South Korea are the only Asian team in the Champions Trophy, while Malaysia will be playing in the Champions Challenge II in Dublin, Ireland on July 6-12. Eight teams will be playing in the Champions Challenge II. Malaysia are in Group B with France, Austria and Russia.
In Group A are Japan, Ireland, Poland an Chile.
"We need to do well in the Asia Cup, and also in the Champions Challenge II to improve our world ranking. I see the Asia Cup as a start to bigger things for this set of players."
If Malaysia make the semi-finals, their likely opponents will be India or Pakistan.
The squad: S. Kumar (goalkeeper), Fairus Wanasir (goalkeeper), Madzli Ikmar (skipper), Amin Rahim, Baljit Singh Charun Singh, Engku Malek, Jiwa Mohan, Shukri Mutalib, Shahrun Nabil, Nabil Fiqri, Kelvinder Singh, Razie Rahim, Jivan Mohan, Azlan Misron, Ismail Abu, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Hafifi Hafiz, Chua Boon Huat, S. Selvaraju.
Fixtures -- Tomorrow: Group B: Pakistan v China (3pm); Group A: South Korea v Malaysia (5pm), Japan v Bangladesh (7pm).
Sunday -- Group B: India v Pakistan (5pm).
(All matches at Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium, Kuantan)