Faizal saves the blushes

A partnership between Faizal Saari and Marhan Jalil saved the blushes as Malaysia held Olympic bound South Korea to a 1-1 draw in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
  The Koreans had taken the lead off Seo Jong Ho in the seventh minute, and Malaysia had to wait until the 56th minute when Marhan fed Faizal who slammed int he equaliser.
  Faizal was also instrumental in Malaysia winning the Junior Asia Cup gold in Malacca recently.
  Six of the seven juniors who featured in the victorious Junior Asia Cup in Malacca were fielded in the match against the 
Koreans.
   Only Fitri Saari was not named for the match while Three juniors Rahmadan Rosli, Noor Faeez Ibrahim and Norhizzat 
Ibrahim earned their first international caps for the national team.
  Malaysia then survived a 10-minute onslaught, and even saved Korea's penalty corner won in the last minute of the match 
to share points.
  The national players next play Olympic hosts Britain today, and the juniors proved against South Korea that they should 
be given more playing time in the Azlan Shah Cup by coach Tai Beng Hai.
  In another match, New Zealand were in a mean mood when they hit a high-five over India to put a dent in their title 
hopes.
  It was a super start for the Kiwis, considering they only had only 16 players available for the match as Blair Hilton was 
ruled out for appendicitis while his replacement Shay Neal was still on the way coupled with the fact that Hugo Inglis 
could not play due to illness.
 The New Zealand goals were scored by Simon Child (first minute), Andy Hayward (34th), Nick Wilson’ (59th), Stephen Jenness 
(61st),  Matt L’hullier (65th). The India goal was scored by Shivendra Singh in the sixth minute.
    In the first match of the day, last year’s silver medallists Pakistan beat Argentina 4-2 with goals from Muhammad Irfan 
(33rd minute), Sohail Abbas (46th), Haseem Khan  (65th) and Muhammad Waqas (69th).
   The Argentina goal was scored by Gonzalo Peillat (53rd) and Mathias Parades (62nd).
   RESULTS: Pakistan 4 Argentina 2, New Zealand 5 India 1, South Korea 1 Malaysia 1.
    TODAY: New Zealand v Argentina (4pm), Britain  v Malaysia (6pm), South Korea  v India (8pm).
    SUNDAY: New Zealand v Pakistan (4pm), South Korea v Argentina (6pm), Britain v India (8pm).
    MAY 28: South Korea v Pakistan (4pm), Britain v Argentina (6pm), India v Malaysia (8pm).
     MAY 30:  Argentina  v  India (4pm), Britain v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan  v Malaysia (8pm).
     MAY 31: Britain v South Korea (4pm), Pakistan v India (6pm), New Zealand  v  Malaysia (8pm).
     JUNE 2: South Korea v New Zealand (4pm), Britain v Pakistan (6pm), Argentina v Malaysia (8pm).

Super 4-2 show from Pakistan

 By http://www.azlanshahcup.com


LAST years silver medallists Pakistan defeated Argentina 4-2 in the opening match of the 21st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
    They almost squandered a 2-0 lead before scoring the winner five minutes from time to take all three points.
   It was however a scrappy performance from both teams as they tried to get accustomed to the blue pitch, similar to the surface in Olympics in London this July.
   It was a rather slow start to the match as both the teams opted to hold on to the ball instead of throwing numbers forward.
   Thus it was a boring opening ten minutes as there was hardly a shot a goal, let alone a penalty corner.
   The first real opening fell to Pakistan as Shabbir Ahmad Khan was not picked up by defenders in the semi circle and his snap shot was well kept out by Argentina’s custodian Juan Manuel Vivaldi.
    Pakistan were awarded a penalty corner in the 22nd minute and although the ever reliable Sohail Abbas was on the pitch, a poor stop foiled any decent attempt on goal.
   Argentina too failed to take advantage of a penalty corner in the 29th minute when the attempt by Pedro Ibarra deflected off the stick of another Argentine player and went wide.
    But Pakistan were not to be denied as two minutes before halftime Muhammad Irfan was put through by Shafqat Rasool and his shot sailed into goal past a rooted Vivaldi.
   Argentina had an opportunity to draw level in the 46th minute when Irfan was adjudged to have fouled Santiago Montelli. But it was muffed as they failed to stop cleanly.
    A penalty corner to Pakistan in the 46th minute dealt a double blow for the South American side.  Ibarra was yellow carded for breaking the penalty corner defence and Sohail Abbas then stepped up to convert the penalty corner, giving Pakistan a 2-0 lead.
    Argentina reduced the deficit in the 53rd minute as Gonzalo Peillat scored off a penalty corner with Ibarra still on the sidelines.
    In the 62nd minute it was all square when Mathias Parades sneaked up behind the defence to slot the ball home after a through ball by Mathias Villa.
    Pakistan were stunned and upped the ante. They were duly rewarded as Haseem Khan deflected a shot by Irfan from the right in the 65th minute to put Pakistan 3-2 ahead.
    Muhammad Waqas completed the scoring, deflecting in a shot on the left by Shabbir Ahmad Khan to give Pakistan a 4-2 win.

Magnificent Seven for Azlan Shah Cup

By http://www.azlanshahcup.com/

Seven players who represented Malaysia in the victorious Asia Junior Cup were given the nod for inclusion in the squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

In what coach Tai Beng Hai states is a team for the future, the fusion of yoingsters and experienced players will carry the Malaysian challenge in a tournament that sees the participation of Great Britain, Argentina, New Zealand, South Korea, Pakistan and India.

“This is a bold move by the coach and we at MHC support his decision to include the younger players,” said MHC Senior Vice President Dato’ Nur Azmi Ahmad.

“It is not the end for those who are droppeds, just that they have to work harder from now on since there are several promising youngsters fighting for their places.”

Those included are brothers Faizal and Fitri Saari, Amir Farid Ahmad Fuzi, Mohd Firhan Ashaari, all of whom had donned the senior team colours before.

The new inclusions are junior skipper Mohd Noor Faeez Ibrahim, Izzat Sumantri and Muhd Ramadhan Mohd Rosli.

Those who played in the Olympic Qualifier in Dublin but were dropped from the squad for the Azlan Shah Cup are Azreen Rizal and Nabil Fiqri Mohd Nor.

While 17 players are already named, the final spot will be a toss up between Mohd Razie Andul Rahim and Muhammad Izzat Mohd Rahim.

Mohd Madzli Ikmar who was the skipper in Dublin had announced his retirement from international hockey in April.

“It was not an easy decision to make to drop players but the youngsters showed more hunger and desire hence their inclusion,” said Beng Hai.

“The players haver vowed to give their best in the tournament and while me may lose out on experience, we aim to make it up with determination.

“I am looking forward to an interesting tournament and I am sure those selected will be out to prove a point.”

His thoughts were echoed by Assistant Coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin.

“We hope that the fans and media will not be too hard on the players as we need to encourage them. We seek co-operation from the media to help nuture these youngsters and encourage them and not break their confidence,” said Nor Saiful.

“Thus I appeal to the fans to come to the stadium and provide support and encouragement, Youngsters need time to prove themselves and it will be great if all are behind this team.”

Meanwhile Beng Hai said he was unfazed by the speculations on his position after the Azlan Shah Cup.

“I only have one thought on my mind – that is to ensure this team does well in the Azlan Shah cup,” said Beng Hai.

“What happens to me and Saiful is secondary as Malaysian hockey is what matters.”

The SAS Squad:

S. Kumar, Roslan Jamaluddin, Baljit Singh, Mohd Shukri Mutalib, Muhd Razie Abd Rahim or Muhd Izzat Mohd Rahim, Muhd Noor Faeez Ibrahim, Muhd Amin Rahim, Muhd Marhan Mohd Jalil, Muhd Ramadhan Mohd Rosli, Azlan Misron, Muhd Fitri Saari, Shahrun Nabil Abdullah, Izzat Sumantri, Hafifi Hafiz Hanafi, Faisal Saari, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tg Abdul Jalil, Amir Farid Ahmad Fuzi, Muhd Firhan Ashaari.

24 hours to London hockey fixtures...

The London Olympic Organizing Committee, together with the International Hockey Federation will announce the competition schedule for the 2012 Olympic hockey tournaments tomorrow. The schedule will be released on both the London 2012 page and the official FIH website tomorrow morning.

  The teams and preliminary round groups were finalised two weeks ago after the South African men became the 24th and final team the qualify for the games. The preliminary round groups are:

WOMEN: Pool A: Netherlands, Belgium, China, Korea, Great Britain, Japan.

Women: Pool B: New Zealand, Australia, Argentina , South Africa, Germany , United States.

MEN -- Group A: Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Pakistan,
Argentina, South Africa.

Group B: Germany, Netherlands, Korea, New Zealand, India,
Belgium.

Condom makes Sanjay’s stick better..

By Rajni Shaleen Chopra

Condoms scale down production, but that is when it comes to humans. A Jalandhar-based manufacturer is now the largest producer of hockey sticks in the country — courtesy condoms.
   Sanjay Kohli, managing director of R K Sports, hit upon this idea a few years ago. The reason was his growing frustration with the hook of the stick, which strikes the ball. The slender, curvaceous hook is actually seven pieces of mulberry wood bound and glued through a tedious process before you get the perfect curve. For the manufacturers of hockey sticks, keeping the hook together is the biggest challenge.
    The problem started first at the factory end. The conventional way was to stick a plastic net on the hook to keep it together. On many sticks, the net would not dry properly or grip the hook, making the precious mulberry wood go to waste. “A good percentage of sticks got damaged this way and had to be shoved into the furnace. The next challenge was the playfield, where the hook split after a few hard strokes,” said Kohli.
   Thinking what will hold the hook together and also grip it right, Kohli hit upon a gem of an idea. Now, during the manufacturing process, condoms are smoothened over the stick. After the sticking net has moulded itself perfectly on the hook, it is time to slide the condom off. The result, after some smoothing and polishing, is a shiny, glossy hook to which the handle is attached. And what you have is a perfect hockey stick, ready to strike ball.
   Today, his employees might well say “What an idea Sirji”, because condoms have helped Kohli increase his production — and his annual turnover — four-fold.
   All this didn’t come without hiccups. Kohli started buying loads of condoms from the neighbourhood store. It went well for a few days, till the shopkeeper smelt a rat and asked Kohli’s worker what was going on — had a brothel opened in the area? Kohli invited the shopkeeper over to the factory and explained what was being done with the condoms. It all ended in cheer and laughter and it is Kohli who is now laughing all the way to the bank.
    When Kohli stated using condoms on hockey stick hooks a few years ago, he made 45 to 75 sticks a day, depending on the success of holding the hook together. Production is now up to about 225 sticks a day. “The condoms have improved the quality of our sticks and hence, the rising demand,” Kohli said. The annual turnover is now up to an impressive Rs 5.25 crore — from the 70-75 lakh a year he made earlier.
   Punjab is the largest producer of hockey sticks and Kohli has a clear edge over his competitors with his new technique. The condoms have helped him save significantly on mulberry wood, which is in scarce supply in the country.
   Indian Express