Aikman picks Malaysia over India..

By Jugjet Singh
jugjet@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: So who will win today? India or Malaysia?
  When this question was posed to Japan coach Seigfried Aikman as well as Fitri Saari, two opposite reactions were received.
  Aikman picked Malaysia, while Fitri was cut short in his answer as coach Roelant Oltmans guarded him like a mother goose.
  Even though the question was asked in Bahasa Malaysia to Fitri, Oltmans was quick to jump in: "Ay, no such nonsence questions to my team. I understand what you asked, and the answer is 'No' to such questions. We have our own plans and programmes in this tournament and the question will answer itself at the end of the tournament!."
  "They say India is a young team (Minus their injured seven World Cup players) but still, 90 per cent of them have played in the Junior World Cup as well as other high ranking tournament and so you can't say they are inexperienced.
  "They are fast and skilfull, we just have to play our own style and the result will come," said Oltmans.
  Aikman picked Malaysia based on counter attack, fitness as well as Faizal Saari's form in the tournament.
  "Malaysia are fast on counter attack and they keep doing it the entire match (against Japan and Poland) because their fitness level is high. They are in the final stages in preparation for the FIH Series Finals and naturally, this is to be expected.
  "Also, the way the team feeds balls to Faizal, and his finishing, I believe Malaysia have the edge over India to win," said Aikman who never shies away from any question.
  Faizal has nailed a hat-trick against Poland and two goals against Japan and will be a guarded man today.
  India skipper Manpreet Singh, Asian Hockey Federation Player-of-the-Year 2018, did not mince his words as well.
  "We are here to win the tournament, and to do that, we have to first beat Malaysia. It was disappointing to lose two points to South Korea (drew 1-1) and we can't afford to lose any more points," said Manpreet who is the livewire and mastermind of India.