National side to get early run on turf

By Ajitpal Singh

THE national squad left yesterday for a three-day training stint at the
Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium in Kuantan - the venue for the Asia Cup on May
9-16.
 The sessions will be crucial as the players will be training in
unfamiliar conditions as the stadium has an artificial turf which most
have not played on.
 However, Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary Sjn Hashim Mohd
Yusoff does not foresee it as a problem.
 "The players should get the hang of it. The feeling is only slightly
different. The turf in Kuantan gives a more natural grass experience
compared to other water-based artificial pitches," said Hashim yesterday.
 The team will get to test the pitch in a friendly against Pakistan on
Sunday.
 A total of 28 players are in the national training squad and the
final-18 will be named on Tuesday.
 The team, coached by Tai Beng Hai, have been given the task of
finishing in the top four bracket in the seven-team tournament.
 Malaysia are in Group A with South Korea, Japan and Bangladesh while
Pakistan, India and China make up Group B.
 The champions will qualify for the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi.