Game for another rampage in China shop

By Ajitpal Singh

MALAYSIA have rarely beaten China at their own backyard but the national hockey players hope to ride on their near perfect form so far when they face the host in a crucial Group A match at the Aoti Stadium today.
A draw would be enough to secure one of the two semi-final spots but national coach Stephen van Huizen wants his boys to play for a win as a victory could secure them top spot in Group A.
Malaysia have beaten China twice in previous three meetings, recorded in last year’s World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand and this year’s Azlan Shah Cup.
But in their last meeting, China won 2-0 in a Four-Nation tournament in Dalian in July.
“We will try our best to enter the semi-finals. I anticipate a tough match but my boys, after victories over Singapore and Oman and a draw with South Korea, are in a confident mood to get a good result,” said van Huizen yesterday.
“We cannot be wasteful as we need to kill-off China early as possible tomorrow (today). I am confident my boys will prevail.
If Malaysia wins a medal in Guangzhou, Stephen will be the first Malaysian coach to guide the national team to it in 20 years.
Australian-born coach Terry Walsh guided the team to a bronze medal in the 1990 Beijing edition and 12 years later, German-born Paul Lissek also led the team to another bronze in Busan.
Striker Azlan Misron, who is currently Malaysia’s top scorer with five goals, is also on a mission to pile up goals against China.
“China have often looked strong at home. We cannot take them lightly. As for me, my personal goal is to score as many goals against them and also create chances for my team-mates,” said the 27-year-old.
Meanwhile, China coach Zhuang Xiaodong said the Malaysian team have been very impressive with their strong defense and attack in the Asian Games.
“We watched them hold Korea to a 2-2 draw on Thursday and I have to admit that they are impressive. But we have studied their game comprehensively.
“I’ve told my men to play without pressure. We definitely need to up our performance to get the required result,” he added.
Malaysia and Korea have collected seven points each after three matches but the former lead the group with goal difference while China are third with six.
However, Korea are expected to top the group as they have an easy match against Singapore today.

China women continue march

By S Thyagarajan

THE defending champion prevailed over Japan by three goals to one, netting all in the first session.
Adept and athletic, the Chinese played with palpable ardour and fluency. The lithe Zhao Yudiao, recently voted as the FIH Women's Young Player of the Year recently, displayed her proficiency in no uncertain manner, netting two, each one a beauty in the real sense of the term.
With 12 points from four games, and two remaining against South Korea and India, the home team appears well ensconced to finish on top in the seven team round robin league.
India a posted a 13-0 victory over Thailand and enhanced the hopes of making a bid to finishing on the podium.
Six points and a generous goal difference place India in a happy position to fight at least for a bronze. Surinder Kaur was the top scorer with four goals for the Indian team.
It turned out to be a great day for Malaysia. While the women’s team registered its first victory in five matches, the men outplayed and outclassed Oman to the tune of 12 goals, giving away two in the match.
The victory has certainly improved Malaysian men team’s chances of making it to the semi-final. But there is an important hurdle in the match. Malaysia is scheduled to take the host, China, in the last match.
Holder South Korea cast away the mood of depression after sharing points with Malaysia and gained a convincing victory over China in Pool A.
The results
Women: India 13 (Chanchan, Saba Anjum, Subadra Pradhan 2, Surinder Kaur 4, Poonam Rani, Rani Ramphal 3, Joydeep Kaur) beat Thailand 0. HT-7-0
China 3 (Zhao Yudiao 2, Gao Linhua) beat Japan 1 (Ai Murakami) HT 3-0
Malaysia 4 (Sumantri Norazilin 3),Abdul Rahman Nadia) beat Kazakhstan 2 (Yuliya Mikhechik, Anastassiya Chsherbakova) HT 1-0.
Men:
Pool A: Malaysia 12 (Muhammad Jalil Marhar, Tnuku Abdul Jalil, Rahim Amin 2, Muhammad Razie, Hanafi, Aslan Misron 3, Faisal Saari 2, Tajuddin Ahmed) beat Oman 2 (Al Shatri Hashim, Hawait Murshid) HT 7-0.
South Korea 3 (Jang Jonghyun 2, You Hyosik) beat China 1 (Song Yi) HT 3-1.
Saturday’s matches:
Women: Japan v Thailand; India v Kazakhstan; China v Korea.
Men: Pool B: Japan v Hong Kong; India v Pakistan.

O-man, 12 goals!

By Ajitpal Singh

THE men’s national hockey team turned on a flawless performance to notch their biggest victory in recent times by annihilating minnows Oman 12-2 in a Group A match at the Aoti Stadium yesterday.
With the victory, Malaysia have seven points from three matches but they still need a good result against China, in their final group match tomorrow, to qualify for the semi-finals.
“An overwhelming result as I never expected this huge margin of victory I thought we would score about six goals but to score a dozen is exceptional,’ said national coach Stephen van Huizen at the Aoti Stadium yesterday.
“My players made use almost all of their chances today (yesterday). It is a good sign as their performance is improving from every match.
“But it is not the time to celebrate as we are not in the semi-finals yet. We need a good result against China to ensure a spot.
Azlan Misron was the toast of the Malaysian team by sounding the board three times in the 25th, 55th and 69th minutes while penalty corner specialist Amin Rahim (19th, 60th)and striker Faizal Saari (25th, 61st) each scored a brace.
Other goal scorers were Mohd Marhan Jalil (eight), Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (15th), Razie Rahim (22nd), Hafifihafiz Hanafi (24th) and Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin (45th).
Women’s Hockey: India 13 Thailand 0, Malaysia 4 Kaza khstan 2, China 3 Japan 1.
Men’s Hockey: Group A: Malaysia 12 Oman 2, China 1 South Korea 3.

Malaysian women beat Kazakh 4-2

Asian Games field hockey results on Friday:
Women’s round-robin: India 13 (Chanchan Thokchom 12, Saba Anjum 15, Rani Kumari 20, 42, 66, Subhadra Pradhan 24, 57, Surinder Kaur 28pen, 31, 60, 63, Poonam Rani 34, Joydeep Kaur 65) Thailand 0 H-t: 7-0
Malaysia 4 (Norazlin Sumantri 17, 66, Nadia Rahman 41, Fazilla Silin 56) Kazakhstan 2 (Yuliya Mikheichik 44, Anastassiya Chsherbakova 70) H-t: 1-0
China 3 (Zhao Yudiao 11, 26, Gao Lihua 14) Japan 1 (Ai Murakami 53) H-t: 3-0

Stunning show from Malaysia

MALAYSIA produced a stunning performance to hold the defending champion, Korea, to a 2-2 draw in pool A of the men’s hockey competition at the Asian Games in Guangzhou on Thursday, writes Mr S. Thyagarajan. But the more important point of the schedule was the fabulous performance by Pakistan, which outclassed Japan by a whopping 8-2 margin in Pool B.
A measure of the intensity of the combat can be gleaned from the fact that Korea leveled when only five remained from the hooter. It was a lively and tension packed encounter that saw the spirited Malaysians almost causing a major shock to a squad that is in quest for a hat-trick of gold medals.
True, the Koreans were quick on their feet and packed power in their drives, but the Malaysian defenders headed by Razie Rahim smothered the attacks with palpable equanimity.
The Koreans were to score first in the 10th minute through Hyun Hyesung but Malaysia came back into the match when Azlan Misron tapped in a forward pass for the equalizer. Shortly after the break, it was Malaysia that held the advantage thanks to quick sallies by Noor and Jalil. The combination helped Hafifi Hafiz to strike the lead.
Put under pressure to avoid a reverse, the Koreans summoned all their strengths in search of an equalizer which emerged only five minutes before the close when Seo Jungho netted. There were some tense moments at the Malaysian goal but goal-keeper Kumar Subramaniam stood like a rock in blocking the withering drives from the Korean attackers.
Former champion, Pakistan, which demolished Hong Kong China by a dozen goals in its opening match, had a measure of Japan in Pool B with a 6-1 victory.
Taken aback by an early goal by Kenji Kitazato from a penalty corner sequence, the Pakistanis retaliated in quick time netting a series of three goals in the first half. Fareed Ahmed produced the leveler followed by an immaculate penalty corner hit by Sohail Abbas. And then came a peach of a goal by Muhammad Rizwan who darted in delectably and delivered a devastating a reverse shot to beat the goal-keeper.
After resumption, Sohail Abbas and Waqas Muhammad, Imran Muhammad, Shakeel Abbasi and Zubair Muhammad scored in that order to take the team to a memorable victory.

Oman recovered from a 0-1 deficit to get full points against Singapore in a Pool A encounter. Initially, the initiative was with Singapore, which forged ahead thanks to a brilliant backhander by Enrico Manican. The team managed to hold on to the lead till the break despite the attempts by Omani forwards to build pressure. A penalty corner by Rajib Basim hit the cross piece and bounced away.
Men: Pool A: Oman 2 (Al Hasni Waleed, Al Shibli Samir) beat Singapore 1 (Enrico Marican) HT 0-1.
Malaysia 2 (Azlan Misron, HafifiHafiz) drew with Korea 2 (Hyun Hyesung, Seo Jongho) HT 1-1.
Pool B: Bangladesh 7 (Chayan Mdmamurnur 4, Rashel Mahamud 2,Alam Maksud)) beat Hong Kong 3 (Asghar Ali 2,Arif Ali) HT 3-2.
Pakistan 8 (Fareed Ahmed, Sohail Abbas 2, Muhammad Rizwan, Waqas Muhammad, Imran Muhammad. Shakeel Abbasi, Waseem Ahmed, Zubair Muhammad) beat Japan 2 (Kenji Kitazato, Kazuhiro Tsubouchi ) HT 3-1.
Friday’s matches:
Men: Pool A: Oman v Malaysia China v Korea
Women: India vThailand ; China v Japan; Malaysia v Kazakhstan.