Pahang soldier on..

By T.N. Alagesh

LOSING a player for the rest of the Razak Cup tournament did not affect the morale of the Pahang players as they thrashed Penang 5-2 in a Division One Group B match while 19-time champions Kuala Lumpur beat Perak 4-3.
    Last year's finalists Pahang will have to play their remaining matches with only 17 players after Mohd Aminuddin Abu, who is serving a two-year suspension, has been barred by Tournament Director Brian Fernandez.
   Aminuddin, suspended in 2011 after failing a doping test, is to complete his suspension on Oct 12 but Pahang had fielded him for their opening match against Perak on Saturday.
   Brian said he has suspended Aminuddin from the tournament and the player has been referred to the disciplinary board.
  Not affected by the off-field issue, Pahang took the lead in the seventh minute at Kuantan Hockey Stadium when Ahmad Kazamirul Nasaruddin scored through a powerful drag-flick before Penang drew level in the 20th minute through Izwan Firdaus Tajuddin.
   Hardworking Ahmad Kazamirul completed his hattrick through penalty corner efforts in the 45th and 49th minutes before Rahimi Iskandar Baharom reduced the deficit for Penang in the 61st minute.
   Five minutes later, former national player Rodzhanizam Mat Radzi made it 4-2 for Pahang before Fahmi Abdullah wrapped up the score in the 69th minute.
   Kuala Lumpur, who finished third last year, got their goals through Nor Hizzat Sumantri (13th), S. Selvaraju (19th and 42nd) and Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor (50th).
    Perak, who upset Pahang on the opening day, scored through national player Azlan Misron (27th), Najib Abu Hassan (62nd) and Sabri Mohamad (64th).
   In a Division Two match, Police failed to extend their winning run after going down 3-2 to Armed Forces, succumbing to a last gasp goal in the 69th minute off a penalty corner.
   Armed Forces' Razali Mohd Hazemi got a hat-trick, firing two first half goals, before notching the last minute winner.
   Police, who had earlier beaten Sabah and Perlis 3-2, replied through midfielder Jivan Mohan (39th) and Baljit Singh (56th).
   
 RESULTS -- Division One, Group B: Pahang 5 Penang 2, Kuala Lumpur 4 Perak 3.
Division Two: Selangor 4 Perlis 2, Police 2 Armed Forces 3, Sabah 5 Kedah 4
TODAY -- Division One, Group A: Negri Sembilan vs Johor (6pm), Terengganu vs Malacca (6pm)
Group B: Pahang vs Kuala Lumpur(8pm, Pitch I), Perak vs Penang (8pm).
Division Two: Armed Forces vs Selangor (4pm). *Matches at Kuantan Hockey Stadium.

Kelvinder Singh salvages draw for Police

FILE PIC of Kelvinder Singh in action ..


FORMER national player Kelvinder Singh saved a point for  Police when he delivered the equaliser in their 3-3 draw  against Selangor in Division Two of the Razak Cup at the  Kuantan Stadium yesterday.
   The draw took Selangor to the top of the standings on seven  points after three matches, and they look good for the title  this season after being boosted by new recruits.
   Kelvinder and national player Jivan Mohan joined the  Police force training this year, and together with former  national juniors Baljit Singh Sarjab Singh, they have  strengthened the side.
    “It was not an easy match as even though we took a 2-0 lead  (by the 12th minute) Selangor came back strongly and  fortunately I managed to nail the equaliser to share points,”  said Kelvinder.
    All three Selangor goals were scored by former juniors  skipper Noor Faeez in the 34th, 53rd, 63rd minutes. Noor  Faeez was the skipper of the national juniors who won the  Junior Asia Cup which booked Malaysia’s spot in the New  Delhi World Cup.
    The other Police goals were scored by Baljit Singh (18th)  and Azinorzilan Hamid (12th).
    “We won two earlier matches and with this hard-fought  draw, we hope keep up the momentum when we play Armed  Forces tomorrow (today),” said Kelvinder Singh.
   Armed Forces were also on fire as they hammered Kedah  7-0. Armed Forces and Selangor have played one match less  as their opening day encounter was washed away by rain.
   Both the teams will square of again on Friday.

STANDINGS
Division Two

                      P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
POLICE           3  2  1   0   9     7   7
FORCES          2  2  0   0   11  0  6
PERLIS            3  2  0   1   8   4   6
SELANGOR      2  1  1   0   12  4  4
SABAH           3  0  0   3   2    8  0
KEDAH           3  0  0   3   2  21  0

DIVISION ONE

GROUP A

                         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
JOHOR              1   1   0  0  5  4   3
TGGANU           1   0   0  1  4  5   0
NEGRI               1   1   0  0  2  1   3
MALACCA         1   0   0  1  1  2   0

GROUP B

                        P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

K LUMPUR       1   1   0  0  3  1   3
PERAK             1   1   0  0  3  2   3
PAHANG           1   0   0  1  2  3   0
PENANG           1   0   0  1  1  3   0

   RESULTS: Division One A: Malacca x Johor x, Negri  Sembilan x Terengganu x.
   Division Two: Kedah 0 Armed Forces 7, Perlis 1 Sabah 0,  Selangor 3 Police 3.
    TODAY: Division One -- Group B: Pahang v Penang (8pm,  Pitch I), Kuala Lumpur v Perak (8pm, Pitch II).
    Division two: Selangor v Perlis (4pm, Pitch I), Police v  Armed Forces (6pm, Pitch I), Sabah v Kedah (6pm, Pitch  II).

KL start on rusty note..

KUALA Lumpur started their Razak Cup Division One campaign on a rusty note when they could only edge Penang 3-1 at the Kuantan Stadium yesterday.
   The 19-time champions were blunt in penalty corners, as they could only score one rebound off the handful that came their way.
   “Not a very bright start, as the team were a little rusty in attack and also in penalty corners. We had many more chances to increase the score, but failed,” said Kuala Lumpur coach K. Rajan.
   However, Rajan is not overly worried with the slow start in Group B.
   “I am confident that as the tournament progresses, my team will become better with each match as we aim to win our 20th title in Kuantan,” said Rajan.
    The KL goals were scored by Nor Syafiq Sumantri (third) and Harvinder Singh (16th, 60th).
    And the Penang attempt was made by Azren Rizal in the sixth minute.
    In another Group B match, hosts Pahang fell 3-2 to Perak. The Perak goals were scored by Harmeet Singh (15th), Harris Fadilla (29th) and  Hafifi Hafiz (66th).
    Robert Alcantara (30th) and Ahmad Kazamirul (38th) scored for Pahang.
   

STANDINGS

Division Two

                      P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
POLICE           2  2  0   0   6  4  6
SELANGOR      1  1  0   0   9  1  3
FORCES          1  1  0   0   4  0  3
PERLIS            2  1  0   1   7  4  3
SABAH           2  0  0   2   2    7  0
KEDAH           2  0  0   2   2  14  0

DIVISION ONE

GROUP A

                         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
JOHOR              1   1   0  0  5  4   3
TGGANU           1   0   0  1  4  5   0
NEGRI               1   1   0  0  2  1   3
MALACCA         1   0   0  1  1  2   0


GROUP B

                        P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

K LUMPUR       1   1   0  0  3  1   3
PERAK             1   1   0  0  3  2   3
PAHANG           1   0   0  1  2  3   0
PENANG           1   0   0  1  1  3   0

   RESULTS: Division One A: Terengganu 4 Johor 5, Malacca 1 Negri Sembilan 2;  Group B: Perak 3 Pahang 2, Kuala Lumpur 3  Penang 1.
    TODAY: Division One A: Malacca v Johor (8pm, Pitch I), Negri Sembilan v Terengganu (8pm, Pitch II).
   Division Two: Kedah v Armed Forces (4pm, Pitch I), Perlis v Sabah (6pm, Pitch I), Selangor v Police (6pm, Pitch II).

Negri 9 select 9 young, 9 old guards...

NEGRI Sembilan listed nine juniors and nine retired  players in their quest to reach the Division One semi-finals of  the Razak Cup at the Kuantan Stadium.
    And although they also listed national goalkeeper S.  Kumar, he is not expected to see action as he is still  recovering from the Asia Cup fatique.
    The Division Two matches started on Friday, while the  more challenging Division One will see action from today.
    “We listed a balanced team as I feel that the juniors still  need guidence from former internationals like S. Kuhan,  Madzli Ikmar and Suhaimi Ibrahim,” said Negri coach S.  Chandran.
    Negri will meet Malacca in their opening Group A en counter.
    “We reached the semis last year and finished fourth, and  hope to play in the knock out stage again but finish higher,”  said Chandran.
    Negri are drawn in Group A with defending champion  Terengganu, Johor and Malacca while last year’s losing  finalist Pahang are in Group B with Kuala Lumpur, Perak and  Penang.
    Kuala Lumpur are holders of 19 Razak Cup tittes, with the  last one won in 2011. Last year, they only had a bronze to  show after being knocked out of the semi-finals by eventual  champions Terengganu.
   But Terengganu is also expected to limp around in Division  One this year, as their goal poachers Firhan Ashaari, and  brothers Faizal and Fitri are not available.
    Faizal left for the German League where he will play for  Berlin Hockey Club, while Fitri and Firhan are in training  with the national juniors for the Sultan of Johor Cup.
    RESULTS - Friday: Division Two: Armed Forces Selangor  (match abandoned), Police 3  Sabah 2, Kedah 1 Perlis 5.
    Saturday: Sabah 0 Armed Forces 4, Perlis 2 Police 3, Kedah  1 Selangor 9.
    FIXTURES: Today: Division One A: Terengganu v Johor  (8pm, Pitch I), Malacca v Negri Sembilan (8pm, Pitch II);  Group B: Perak v Pahang (6pm, Pitch I), Kuala Lumpur v  Penang (6pm, Pitch II).

Ritu Rani to skipper India in Asia Cup..

 
New Delhi (PTI): Veteran midfielder Ritu Rani will lead an 18-member Indian women's hockey team in the eighth Asia Cup to be played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September 21 to 27.
    "Hockey India Selectors BP Govinda, Surinder Kaur, Mamta Kharab, chief coach Neil Hawgood, coach IS Gill and scientific advisor Matthew Tredrea, alongwith government observer Harbinder Singh, selected the 18 players and six standbys during the trials conducted in Patiala on August 30 and 31," HI said in a press release.
   Ritu has 157 India appearances to her credit. The 18-member squad will have another midfielder Chanchan Devi Thokchom (88 caps) as the vice-captain.
   The team's training camp is has been underway in Patiala since August 8 as final preparations for the tournament. The team will depart for Malaysia on September 16.
    India are placed in Pool A with China, hosts Malaysia and Hong Kong China while Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei are placed in Pool B.
   India will open their campaign against Hong Kong China on September 21 followed by China on September 22 and hosts Malaysia on September 24.
    The Women's Asia Cup is the continental qualification tournament for the FIH Women's World Cup 2014 to be played in The Hague, The Netherlands, from May 31-June 14, 2014.
   Squad: Goalkeepers: Rajani Etimarpu, Savita Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Joydeep Kaur, Kirandeep Kaur, Sunita Lakra, Deepika, Namita Toppo, P Sushila Chanu, M N Ponnamma Midfielders: Ritu Rani (Captain), Chanchan Devi Thokchom (Vice-Captain), Soundarya Yendala, Lily Chanu Forwards: Poonam Rani, Rani, Vandana Katariya, Anuradha Devi Thokchom. Standbys: Sanarik Chanu, Asunta Lakra, Monika Malik, Navjot Kaur, Lilima Minz, Anupa Barla.