Maybank Malaysian Open golf now worth US2.75 million

THE Maybank Malaysian Open will return to the Kuala  Lumpur Golf and Country Club on March 21-24 with an  increase of US250,000 in prize money .
    The lucrative purse now stands at US2.75 million, and is set  to attract the best golfers from around the globe.
    “Our sponsorship of the Malaysian Open is entering its  eighth year now and we are upping the ante by offering a total  purse of US2.75 million. We are confident that this will fire up  the competitive spirit of the golfers. Spectators can also  expect an electrifying tournament come March,” said chief  marketing officer of Maybank Mohamed Adam Wee.
    Echoing Maybank’s delight on the announced prize purse  are the event’s custodian - The Malaysian Golf Association  (MGA).
  “The Maybank Malaysian Open has established itself as  one of the major golf events to look out for. In this region, it is  a golf event that has drawn international players and  spectators alike, due to its world-class status and world- recognized stature. The increase in prize money will def initely up the prestige of the event and heighten the per formance of the golfers,”  said MGA president Admiral (R) Tan  Sri Datuk Setia Mohamed Anwar.
    The Maybank Malaysian Open is one of the most an ticipated championships in a professional golfer’s schedule.  It is the first tournament in Asia to be co-sanctioned by the  PGA European Tour and Asian Tour.
    It has also been the nursing ground for young professionals  who aim to lay their mark and build up to the ranks of  experienced professional players.

Champions Challenge for Revington..

LAUSANNE – The FIH today announced the schedule for the 2012 Argentina Hockey Men’s Champions Challenge 1, hosted in Quilmes, Argentina from November 24-December 2.

  The tournament will be the first major FIH event after the 2012 London Games and kicks off the next cycle as teams turn their attention from the Olympics to the 2014 World Cup. 
    Three of the eight teams in the competitive field were in London for the Games. Of the trio, Korea was the highest finisher in London, coming in at eighth place. Argentina and South Africa closed the games in 10th and 11th place, respectively.

   The eight-team field will be split into two preliminary round groups of four teams each. 

   In Group A is highest-ranked Korea, which holds down the seventh spot in the FIH World Ranking. They are joined by Malaysia, Canada and Poland. Group B will feature host Argentina as the top-seeded team, ranked 10th in the FIH World Ranking. Challenging Argentina in the group will be South Africa, Ireland and Japan.

   All eight teams will move onto a quarterfinal game with the first place finishers taking on the last place finishers from the other groups and the second and third place teams playing in a similar cross-over. From there, the winners will move onto the semi-finals and medal games, while the losers will play for placement.

    All eyes are sure to be on the Argentina vs. South Africa preliminary round game on the second day of action. The teams met in the bronze medal game of the 2011 edition of the Champions Challenge 1, which South Africa won, 3-1.  

      Argentina exacted revenge for that loss in London, beating the South Africans 6-3 in the preliminary round.

     The Argentina Hockey Men’s Champion’s Challenge 1 will give the teams World Ranking points and the winner of the tournament will be automatically qualified for the next edition of the men’s Champions Trophy.

Scots ready to face Champions Challenge

Marshall Karrena

Scotland Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd has revealed the squad of eighteen players for the FIH Champions Challenge competition taking place in Dublin, Ireland from 29 September-7 October.
  The Scots claimed a bronze medal in last year's FIH Champions Challenge and eleven members of that squad will travel back to Dublin for participation in this season's competition. Shepherd has elevated a number of U21 players to the senior squad since then, whilst new faces have forced their way into the Dundonian's plans.
  "I've been delighted with all the under 21 players who have made the step up to the senior squad and they have made a real impression this summer", said Shepherd.
  "The likes of Aileen Davis, Susan McGilveray and Nikki Lloyd have also successfully demonstrated their cases for inclusion in the squad after excellent performances. They should all be happy with their selection."
 
Aileen Davis

This year, Scotland will face hosts Ireland, South Africa and USA in Pool A, whilst Australia, Belgium, India and Wales make up the remainder of the competing teams in Pool B.
  Assessing the opposition the Scots will face in the Pool stage, Shepherd said, "The most important target is to retain our place in this competition, which means finishing in the top six. I'm confident we can beat Ireland, and in a one-off match, the result against South Africa could go either way. The Americans have made a number of changes since London 2012 and they will present a tough opening match for us in Dublin."
  Indeed, Shepherd will have recent international matches against Ireland and South Africa to reflect upon as he plots his side's way through the competition. The Scots edged out the Irish 2-1 in a three match series at Auchenhowie in early September, but will expect a tough examination from the South Africans, who defeated the national side 4-0 in a five match series at Clydesdale as part of their preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
  Having lost out 3-0 to USA at the semi-final stage of last year's Champions Challenge, Scotland will also be wary of the threat posed from the Americans to their progress. Although the USA finished last in the Olympic Games hockey competition this summer, they can still be regarded amongst the favourites to reach the latter stages.
   Edinburgh University's Nikki Kidd will win her 100th international cap for Scotland during the competition, whilst Surbiton's Becky Merchant and Giffnock's Kareena Marshall are both in line to reach the 50th cap milestone.


Nikki Kidd

"Nikki Kidd has been a fantastic asset to the national side since she moved into the midfield position. She's become a real threat from short corner set plays and I'm delighted with her contribution. Reaching 100 caps is an amazing achievement and she should be proud." said Shepherd.
  Scotland Women: Nicki Cochrane, Ali Bell, Linda Clement (c), Leigh Fawcett, Ailsa Wyllie (all Grove Menzieshill), Catriona Ralph, Susan McGilveray, Nicola Skrastin, Amy Gibson, Morag McLellan (all Milne Craig Clydesdale Western), Samantha Judge, Sarah Robertson, Nikki Kidd (all Edinburgh University), Vikki Bunce (VWS Dundee Wanderers), Kareena Marshall (Giffnock), Becky Merchant (Surbiton HC), Aileen Davis (Clifton HC), Nikki Lloyd (Sevenoaks HC).
  Please visit the FIH Champions Challenge website for more info on match schedule, results and news.
Scottish Hockey Union media release

Champions Trophy will be India’s real test..

Five-time World Player of the Year, Australian hockey striker Jamie Dwyer has put a "two-year cap on his international career".
  Dwyer, also the Kookaburras captain, is considered among the best strikers of the present era, and even at 33 is the most sought player world-wide. His impeccable game sense and exemplary skills inside the striking circle mark him out.
  Said Dwyer in a chat, "Even though I am extremely passionate about hockey, I will have to slow down somewhere. Another two years is what I would say.
  "I have had a decent international career, with an Olympic gold and two bronze, and a World Cup title. I would have loved to finish with a gold in London, my last Olympics but we faltered in our semi-final game against eventual winners Germany. Still, I would take all that I have happily."
  Asked about India’s performance at the London Games where they finished 12th, Dwyer reckoned it took time to adapt to a new style of play.
  "India and Australia do not play hockey like the Europeans. We have our own style of attacking hockey that is different.
  "India did not look consistent during the Olympics, but I believe they are a good side and have always been tough to play against. I think perhaps they could not adapt to the changes introduced in their play structure and would be able to do so ahead.
  "The Champions Trophy in Melbourne (in December) will be their real test," said Dwyer.
  The Perth-based Dwyer, who also handles an online coaching course along with Australia team-mate Mark Knowles to help educate youngsters about the nuances of the game, will now ply his trade in the Hockey India League, set for a January 2013 bully-off.
  That the league has found an official window from the world body (FIH) makes it a huge plus for the overseas players.
  "We have been waiting for somthing like this," said Dwyer. "And India is the right place to hold such a league. The amount of passion and fan following that any sport needs is present here. India is incredible in that sense."
  Dwyer, in fact, had named his younger son Taj, after capping a successful year in India in 2010. "Year 2010, when my second son was born, was a kind of an Indian year for me. We won the World Cup and then the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and it was a high. I loved the name Taj, which is also little bit popular in Australia.
  "Though it’s funny that neither me nor little Taj have seen the beautiful Taj Mahal yet! One day hopefully we will be able to do it," he said with a smile.
   The Asian Age

KLHC: Kabhi Koshy Kabhi Gham...

GEORGE KOSHY

MALAYSIA Hockey League double champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) see their weekend defeat and draw in the Premier Division as more of hitting a speed-hump, than a brick wall.
    KLHC had a brilliant start by winning four matches with ease, but were stumped when Tenaga Nasional beat them 4-3 on Friday.
   And on Sunday, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sapura, whom them thrashed 5-0 in the first leg.
   The MHL was heading towards a predictable end, but KLHC’s charge was somehow derailed and now top-of-the-table Tenaga and also Sapura are also in the hunt for silverware.
   KLHC Team manager George Koshy placed the blame on the entire team, from players to officials, for their temporary slump.
    “Our performance in the last two matches was a major disappointment and the blame lies on the entire team as well as officials.
    “Most of the chances that we got in the earlier four games were converted without difficulty,  but everything went miserably wrong against Tenaga and Sapura as we failed to convert the many chances that came our way.
   “ I don’t think we have hit a brick wall in our quest to retain the League title, but more like hitting a speed bump at full speed,” said Koshy.
    KLHC are a combination of youth and experienced former internationals like Chua Boon Huat, Kelvinder Singh and Ismail Abu.
    “We have a bunch of talented and experienced individuals who I’m sure will individually and collectively work out a plan cum strategy to overcome this setback.
     “Watch us bounce back in the remaining games as we not only plan for wins but continue with our entertaining style,” said George.
     MHL current top scorer Faizal Saari saved Tenaga the blushes as well as placed them at the top of the standings by scoring the solitary goal against Maybank on Sunday to share the spoils.
    Faizal has scored a total of 13 out of Tenaga’s 16, and they will rely on him in the remaining matches to tighten their grip on the League title.