Malaysia bank on 'fighting spirit'

ROBYN EDIE/Southland Times: PRACTICE RUN: Malaysian hockey star Jiwa Mohan makes a run during a training session at Turnbull Thomson Park in Invercargill yesterday.

By BRENDON EGAN - The Southland Times
Malaysia's national hockey team was enjoying the unusual feeling of anonymity at Turnbull Thomson Park in Invercargill yesterday.
Back home in Malaysia, the sport is a big deal. Hockey is the No 1 team game and is well financed, with players revered like rock stars.
Later this week, several newspaper journalists and television film crews will arrive from Malaysia to keep passionate fans in the Southeast Asian country updated.
In recent times, Malaysia have failed to live up to the hype on the hockey pitch. They missed out on qualification for the previous two Olympic Games, as well as the World Cup in Germany in 2006.
Experienced Malaysian campaigner Jiwa Mohan, who has amassed 261 caps for his country, said his side was determined to seal a place in next year's World Cup in India, by winning the winner-takes-all World Cup qualifiers tournament in Invercargill.
"We really need to qualify," Mohan told The Southland Times yesterday. "We have failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics and the Germany World Cup. The support comes with success. That's the same everywhere in the world."
Malaysia warmed up for the World Cup qualifiers tournament – which begins on Saturday – with a five-game series against Australia in Kuala Lumpur last month. The Malaysians lost the series 3-nil with two matches drawn, but Mohan said not to read too much into those results.
"The five-test series against Australia was basically selection for our team. We had 25 players and we had to reduce it to 18 players ...
"I think we have a very good chance. We've planned our strategy and we're hoping to execute it."
Malaysia's biggest challenger at the World Cup qualifiers tournament will be the New Zealand Black Sticks, who are ranked eighth in the world – eight spots higher than 16th-ranked Malaysia.
The two sides will know each other well after having played in a five match series earlier this year, which New Zealand won 3-nil. Malaysia left several talented players at home for that series, though, so will be an entirely different proposition.
Mohan, who resides in Perth, Australia, where he works as a mechanical engineer, said his side was respectful of the Black Sticks, but said it would not be overawed by them.
He believed Malaysia had the right mix in their squad for the Invercargill tournament.
"We've got a combination of youth, who played in the recent Junior World Cup, and a few experienced players ... Our biggest strength is our fighting spirit and our unity. We have good skills as well. Basically, everything's good," the likeable Mohan said, laughing.

FINAL FAREWELL

By S.S. Dhaliwal

It are the lessons in life that Tai Beng Hai learnt from his late father that will now serve him in his quest to ensure Malaysia qualifies for the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi.
Beng Hai arrived from Invercargill last night to pay his final respects to his beloved father, Tai Chin Seng who passed away Tuesday after being involved in a hit and run accident on Sunday morning in Taiping.
The funeral services will commence at noon today and Beng Hai was driven straight from KLIA to Taiping upon his arrival last night by his best friend M. Sambu, a former international.
Beng Hai recalled how his father had always emphasized on the need to do one’s best in their chosen field. And one of the lessons Beng Hai learnt from his father was to aim for the top.
Chin Seng, 77 succumbed to his injuries despite an operation to remove a blood clot and Beng Hai was praying that his father would recover, but fate dealt a cruel blow.
“This is fated and something we have to accept in life. I had to return to pay my respects as he was so proud of my hockey career,” said Beng Hai.
“Right from the time I was in school until I made the national team, my father kept encouraging me to play hockey.
“He used to be so happy to see my name and picture appear in the newspapers and I sensed that he was happy with my involvement in hockey, always wanting me to aim for the top.
Beng Hai last met his father upon the completion of the Test Matches against Australia and said there was never any indication that that would be their last meeting.
Upon completion of the funeral, Beng Hai will head for KLIA today and make his way back to Invercargill where Malaysia opens accounts in the qualifiers against Austria on Saturday.
“The pitch is quite bumpy but we have had five sessions since we arrived last Sunday and that has allowed the players to get used to it,” said Beng Hai.
“My concern is really the winds as it can get very chilly and it has been raining the past few days. So this will affect thr players somewhat.
“But that is something that we have to overcome as the team is more then ready to take on the opposition once the tournament gets underway.
"The players are focussed on the task ahead and have been working hard since our arrival."
When asked if the good performances of Pakistan and Japan, the two Asian teams playing in the qualifiers at France was something that could provide his team with a confidence booster, Beng Hai had this to say;
“We will take it one match at a time and not underestimate any team in the tournament. What is important is that we give teams their due respect but not fear them.
“A good start on Saturday will set into motion our quest to make the World Cup and I have confidence in the ability of the players selected to undertake this task.”
And from the heavens, Beng Hai will have his father looking over him as he guides Malaysia step by step to a place in New Delhi.

Pakistan and Japan lead with 6 points

FIH World Cup Qualifier, Men – Lille, France
Results Day 2: Sunday 1 November 2009

Pakistan - Russia 5:0 (3:0)
PAK 23mn Rehan BUTT (FG) 1:0
PAK 31mn Shakeel ABBASI (FG) 2:0
PAK 33mn Sohail ABBAS (PC) 3:0
PAK 37mn Muhammad IMRAN (PC) 4:0
PAK 43mn Abdul Haseem KHAN (FG) 5:0

Japan - Poland 3:2 (3:2)
JPN 2mn Kenta TANAKA (FG) 1:0
POL 9mn Tomasz DUTKIEWICZ (PC) 1:1
JPN 14mn Tomonori ONO (FG) 2:1
JPN 34mn Katsuyoshi NAGASAWA (PC) 3:1
POL 35mn Maciej JANISZEWSKI (PC) 3:2

Italy - France 0:3 (0:1)
FRA 9mn Martin GENESTET (FG) 0:1
FRA 50mn Frédéric SOYEZ (PC) 0:2
FRA 58mn Frédéric SOYEZ (PC) 0:3

Standings: 1) Pakistan 6pts 2) Japan 6pts 3) France 4pts 4) Poland 1pt 5) Italy 0 pt 6) Russia 0 pt

(Pix and Story By FIH) The FIH World Cup Qualifier in Lille, France, continued in increasingly cold, windy and rainy conditions. Pakistan earned easily their second win against Russia (5-0), Japan won a very tight and important game against Poland (3-2) and France pleased their fans with a 3-0 win over Italy.

Game 4 – Pakistan v. Russia: 5-0 (half-time: 3-0)

It took Pakistan a few minutes to find some rhythm in the cold weather, but they soon took control of the game. They built up some chances in front of the Russian goal, however the first real opportunity was at the other end, with a penalty corner for Russia well saved by Zeeshan ASHRAF in goal. ASHRAF was called again into action soon after on an instant shot by Yaroslav LOGINOV who collected a ball loosely controlled by the Pakistani defense.

Game 5 – Japan v. Poland: 3-2 (half-time: 3-2)

In what was billed as the most balanced match of the day, Japan did not wait long to stake their claim on the game, their prolific striker Kenta TANAKA opening the scoring after less than a minute of play! The Poles were undeterred and reacted immediately, forcing a penalty-corner well converted by Tomasz DUTKIEWICZ a few minutes later.

Game 6 – Italy v. France: 0-3 (half-time: 0-1)

Buoyed by a crowd of hearty fans who did not seem bothered by the torrential rain, the French tried to score quickly to reassure themselves after their opening day set-back against Poland. They promptly earned a penalty-corner and tried a deflection, but it flew just over the crossbar. After a swift counter-attack soon after, Martin GENESTET lost the ball while entering the circle, but somehow collected it again to slam it into goal.

China 4 Malaysia 0 (HT: 1-0)

RESULTS: Group A: Malaysia 0 China 4, Singapore 1 Thailand 0; Group B: Hong Kong 3 Sri Lanka 0, Kazakhstan 0 South Korea 15, Taiwan 0 Japan 7.

THE Malaysian women’s hockey team did the unexpected yesterday when they only lost 4-0 to Beijing Olympic silver medallists China in the Seventh Women’s Asia Cup at the Queen Sirikit Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
China, the hot favourites for gold, whipped Singapore 13-0 in their first match, but the Malaysian girls determination paid off.
“The idea was to keep the score down for a morale boost when we play Singapore, and I am elated that our team did not disappoint,” said Malaysian Women’s Hockey Federation secretary S. Shamala.
Today is a rest day, and the women play Singapore on Tuesday, where a win will place them in good steed when they play their last Group A match against India.
China could only score one goal in the first half, but hit another three in the second half against Malaysia.

TODAY (2/11/09): Rest Day.
TOMORROW (3/11/09): Group A: India v China, Singapore v Malaysia; Group B: Hong Kong v Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka v Taiwan, Japan v South Korea.

Pakistan and Japan on track

FIH World Cup Qualifier, Men – Lille, France
Results Day 1: Saturday 31 October 2009

Japan - Russia 4:0 (1:0)
JPN 6mn Kenta TANAKA (FG) 1:0
JPN 44mn Kazuhiro TSUBOUCHI (FG) 2:0
JPN 52mn Kenta TANAKA (FG) 3:0
JPN 67mn Kenta TANAKA (FG) 4:0

Pakistan - Italy 5:0 (1:0)
PAK 31mn Sohail ABBAS (PC) 1:0
PAK 43mn Muhammad IMRAN (PC) 2:0
PAK 47mn Sohail ABBAS (PC) 3:0
PAK 52mn Muhammad ZUBAIR (FG) 4:0
PAK 68mn Abdul Haseem KHAN (FG) 5:0

France - Poland 2:2 (1:1)
POL 17mn Marcin STRYKOWSKI (FG) 0:1
FRA 35mn Matthieu DURCHON (PC) 1:1
FRA 45mn Frédéric SOYEZ (PC) 2:1
POL 58mn Marcin STRYKOWSKI (FG) 2:2

PICTURES AND STORY BY FIH

The FIH World Cup Qualifier in Lille, France, started smoothly for the favorites, with Japan cleanly dispatching Russia (4-0) and Pakistan having no problem to defeat Italy (5-0), but France had an unexpected setback, tying a hardly contested game against Poland (2-2).

The competition is played on the new turf of the Lille Metropole Hockey Club, in a facility very well prepared by the French Hockey Federation and the local Organizing Committee. Day 1 was played in cool but sunny conditions.

Game 1 – Japan v. Russia: 4-0 (half-time: 1-0)

The opening game started at full speed, with both team eager to warm up in the cool morning. Japan promptly took advantage of a Russian unforced error in midfield to set a quick counter-attack that found Kenta TANAKA at the top of the circle for the first goal of the competition in the 6th minute. The game then settled down; Japan tried to overwhelm their opposition with their superior speed, but could not surprise the very athletic and well organized Russian team.

Game 2 – Pakistan v. Italy: 5-0 (half-time: 1-0)

Pakistan camped in the Italian defensive zone from the opening whistle and created multiple opportunities, but scrambled some good chances (including their first penalty-corner) and rookie Italian goal-keeper Davide GUIDA denied them the rest of the times. They pleased the crowd with some fancy stick work but tried to make the difference individually, and were pushed back by the well regrouped and composed Italian defense. It took Sohail Abbas, in the 31st minute, to place his team on the winning track.

Game 3 – France v. Poland: 2-2 (half-time: 1-1)

Boosted by a vibrant rendition of La Marseillaise by the home crowd, the French team immediately pushed forward, and Frédéric SOYEZ had the crowd on their feet in expectation with a deflection that shaved the cross bar. But the Polish defense was expecting this initial burst and absorbed well the pressure. The game became more balance, with the Poles mounting some dangerous counter-attacks, and it is finally Marcin STRYKOWSKI who opened the score in the 17th minute with a swift deflection that surprised Henri-Julien LHOMME in the French goal.