Malaysia game for their second title..

NATIONAL juniors coach K. Dharmaraj has set his eyes on the Sultan of Johor Cup title, as he finally has his full squad for the assault at the Taman Daya Stadium from Sept 22-29.
    Malaysia were the inaugural champions in 2011, but ended at the bottom last year, and with the Junior World Cup just around the corner, Dharmaraj wants the title as an early boost.
    Malaysia are in Group D of the Junior World Cup, in New Delhi from Dec 6-15, together with Pakistan, England and South Africa.
   And in Johor, the other five teams are England, Pakistan, India, Argentina and South Korea.
    “I believe with the inclusion of the four players who were with the senior side, the team has the potential to win the title again.
    “And with England and Pakistan in our World Cup group, it is time we win morale boosters on home soil,” said Dharmaraj.
    South Africa were also supposed to play in Johor, but pulled out due to lack of funds.
   The four who played in the Asia Cup with the senior side and will be back with Dharmaraj are Fitri Saari, Faiz Jali Helmi, Izad Hakimi and Firhan Ashaari.
    And even though Malaysia will parade their best available, India and Pakistan are expected to be the teams to beat.
    “Looking at the team list, Pakistan will be fielding the same side which we beat in the final of the Junior Asia Cup, while India also have many players who have seen action at the senior side in recent major tournaments.
   “But that is the challenge we gladly accept, because my players need to beat both this two teams to prepare for the Junior World Cup semi-finals target,” said Dharmaraj.

Women shoot for the stars..

THE Malaysian women’s hockey team for the Asia Cup will  attempt to scale new heights, as a fourth-placed target has  been set for them.
    The tournament, which is also a World Cup Qualifier, will  be held at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil from  Sept 21-27.
    Malaysia are Group A with defending champions China,  India, and Hong Kong while South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan  and Taiwan are placed in Group B.
    “We need to beat India and Hong Kong to play in the semi- finals, and take matters from there,” said women’s coach  Nasihin Nubli.
    The 18-strong squad, with an average age of 24, will also  see 18-year-old Fatin Shafika playing in her third big tournament after featuring in the World Hockey League Round  One and Round Two.
    The other notable youngster is 20-year-old Nor Azlin  Sumantri.
    Malaysia will open accounts against China on Sept 21,  followed by Hong Kong the next day and their last group  match is against India on Sept 24.
    The women’s junior and senior side received an attire  boost to the tune of RM200,000 from GS Gill.
   “This is the 11th year of sponsorship from GS Gill and we  are grateful to the undying support,” said Nasihin.
    MALAYSIA -- Goalkeepers: Farah Ayuni Yahya, Siti Noor  Hafiza.
   Defenders: Julaini Din, Siti Shahidah Saad, Raja Noor Sharina, Nuraini Rashid, Norhashikin Halim, Siti Nor Ama rina.
   Midfielders: Nadia Rahman, Rabiatul Adawiyah, Noor  Hasliza Ali, Fatin Shakira, Nor Izaidah Ibrahim.
   Forwards: Norbaini Hashim, Siti Rahmah Othman, Fazilla  Sylvester Silin, Nurul Nabihan Mansor, Nor Azlin Sumantri.

Five nations battle for 2018 World Cups

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is delighted to announce that it has received seven high quality bids from five nations who are all vying for the chance to host Hockey’s marquee events.

Four official proposals to host the men’s World Cup have been made, with a further three submissions being made for the women’s equivalent. The National Associations of Australia, England, India, Malaysia, and New Zealand have all put extremely strong cases forward in an attempt to lure the sport’s top properties to their territory. 

As part of the bidding process, the FIH requested that official bid questionnaires were submitted before the 31 August deadline. The FIH received official submissions from five of the original six nations that initially expressed interest earlier in the year. The next phase of the process will feature the detailed evaluation of each bid which will be followed by further discussions and clarifications with NAs as well as site visits to each country.  The final decision will rest with the FIH Executive Board in Lausanne, Switzerland, with the winning bids being announced on 7 November 2013.

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).