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MALAYSIA will need a miracle to beat World No 1 Australia in their opening Group A match of the World Cup at the Hague, Netherlands on May 31.
Ranked lowest at the Hague, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has given Malaysia the honour to open the tournament curtains against the highest ranked team.
And there is more trouble in the format, as twelve-team tournament has two groups, with the top-two in each group moving into the semi-finals, while the rest will battle it out in the fifth-12th bracket depending on how they fare in the group stages.
The tournament format is such that it makes group matches more important, as the teams which end third in Group A and Group B will battle it out for the fifth-sixth spot.
“Yes, we would need a miracle to beat defending cham pions Australia, so we will concentrate on the other four teams to make sure we finish as high as possible in Group A, as the FIH format is a straight playoff with no cross-overs for cushion,” said national coach K. Dharmaraj.
World No 13 Malaysia’s other opponents in Group A are world No 5 Belgium (June 2), world No 4 England (June 5), world No 10 India (June 7) and world No 9 Spain (June 9).
In Group B are Olympic champions and world No 2 Germany, Netherlands (No 3), New Zealand (No 6), South Korea (No 7), Argentina (No 11) and South Africa (No 12).
“As the lowest ranked team in the tournament, we need to target a high position in our Group. But our first three matches will be difficult to win, so, we will go all out to get the better of India and Spain in the last two matches to avoid finishing last in the group,” said Dharmaraj.
But the Australians would surely remember last year’s Azlan Shah Cup final, where Malaysia took them to the wire before losing 3-2 with the winner scored seven seconds from time.
Then, Faizal Saari and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin scored to hold Australia 2-2 before Trent Mitton stunned the 15,000 fans with his dying second goal to win Australia’s seventh Azlan Shah Cup title.
This horse has been by my side for years, n after midnight, its his year. Happy Chinese New Year guys!
NATIONAL No 1 and Asia’s best goalkeeper S. Kumar was named as the man-of-the-match for Uttar Pardesh Wizards when his heroics saw his side beat defending champions Ranchi Rhinos 3-2 in the opening match of the Hockey India League (HIL) yesterday.
The Wizards, who finished third in the inaugural HIL last year, twice came from a goal down to shock the home team.
Kumar 34, failed to cement a spot for the Wizards in its inaugural edition last year, as he was only fielded in one match throughout the month long tournament.
However this time around head coach Roelant Oltmans gave the Malaysian the go ahead in their opening match and he did not disappoint.
The other Malaysian players in the HIL are Radzi Rahim and Faizal Saari who are with the Dabur Mumbai Magicians team.
UNIKL young guns lost the Junior Hockey League Milo Cup title to Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts 1-0 last season.
Back then, SSTMI dominated play, but UniKL were awarded nine penalty corners and wasted all -- and there is cause for worry about penalty corners again this season.
UniKL, who have only played two matches in Division One of the JHL, beat Malacca High School 5-0, but in the processs they failed to score a single goal from the 10 penalty corners awarded in the match.
However, UniKL coach Rodhanizam Radzi is not pressing the panic button yet.
“After two wins, I believe the team is clicking well even though sometimes the players don’t use the opportunities like the many penalty corners won, as well as make mistakes in the semi-circle.
“But I believe that it normal in any team earlyin the season,” said Rodhanizam, a former national player.
On his take on SSTMI Thunderbolts, who are gunning for their fourth straight Milo Cup: “SSTMI have are the team to beat this season, again, no doubt about it.
“However, we are prepared to give them a good fight, but before that, we need to focus on SSTMI Juniors first (Feb 7 match),” said Rodhanizam.
Thunderbolts have nine points from three matches, and will play UniKL on Feb 8, which could be the day of reckoning for JHL Division One title aspirants.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) Technical Committee yesterday threw out Old La Sallian Association of Klang (OLAK-PKT) protest over poor umpiring and the appointment of officials during their match against 1Mas Perak in Division Two B of the JHL on Saturday.
The MHC Technical Committee decided on the stand because JHL tournament rules stipulate no team can question umpires, or the appointment of officials for matches.
However Olak-PKT, who won the match 2-1, were refunded the RM500 deposit paid for the protest.
JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDING AFTER JAN 26 MATCHES
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
TH’BOLTS 3 3 0 0 19 1 9
PJCC 4 3 0 1 9 9 9
UNIKL 2 2 0 0 7 0 6
ANDERSON 5 1 2 2 6 12 5
MHS 4 0 2 2 4 11 2
KLSS 3 0 1 2 3 7 1
SSTMI JNRS 3 0 1 2 3 11 1
DIVISION TWO A
P W D L F A Pts
NUR INSAFI 5 5 0 0 18 5 15
BAKAT 5 4 0 1 13 7 12
SYED HASSAN 3 2 1 0 10 2 7
MSSPP-USM 4 2 0 2 10 7 6
MATRI PERLIS 4 1 1 2 5 6 4
1MAS PENANG 4 0 1 3 3 9 1
STAR 4 0 1 3 2 17 1
PHKS 3 0 0 3 1 9 0
DIVISION TWO B
P W D L F A Pts
OLAK-PKT 5 5 0 0 26 4 15
PAHANG JRS 5 3 2 0 10 5 11
PDG MIDIN 3 2 0 1 20 4 6
LARUT MATANG 4 1 2 1 11 9 5
1MAS PERAK 4 1 1 2 9 7 4
FELDA TEMERLOH 4 1 1 2 7 8 4
KLSS JRS 5 1 0 4 7 18 3
PERMATANG JRS 4 0 0 4 3 38 0
DIVISION TWO C
P W D L F A Pts
POLITEKNIK 4 4 0 0 23 3 12
BENTARA LUAR 4 3 0 1 17 6 9
BJSS 4 3 0 1 14 6 9
SMKTB 3 2 0 1 7 9 6
SMKDMT 4 0 1 3 3 14 1
PHDK 4 0 1 3 4 20 1
BJSS JRS 3 0 0 3 3 13 0
