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AHL: Malaysian Tigress in action against New Zealand Futures. Picture By Ferzalfie Fauzi (Harian Metro)
MALAYSIAN Tigers beat Canberra Lakers 3-0 in the Australian Hockey League Fifth-Eighth Classification match in Perth Friday.
The Tigers, which is the national men's team, will play Queensland Blades Saturday to decide their fate in the first season in AHL.
Shahril Saabah (fifth), Haziq Shamsul (seventh) and Ramadhan Rosli (49th) scored for the Tigers.
However the Malaysian Blues, the back-up team, were thrashed 5-1 by NT Stingers in the Ninth-12th Classification match, when only Akhimullah Anuar was on target in the 43rd minute. They play New Zealand Futures Saturday.
The Tigress, women's national team, were held 1-1 by New Zealand Futures in the classification, and now top the losers pool by seven points.
Nurul Nabihah Mansur (42nd) was the scorer for Malaysia.
RESULTS: Men -- Fifth-Eight: Malaysian Tigers 3 Canberra Lakers 0; Ninth-12th: Malaysian Blues 1 NT Stingers 5.
Women: Classification: Malaysian Tigress 1 New Zealand Futures
1.
SATURDAY -- Men: Fifth-Eight: Malaysian Tigers v Queensland Blades; Ninth-12th: Malaysian Blues v New Zealand Futures.
Women: Classification: Malaysian Tigress v WA Diamonds.
DANNY Chia and Nicholas Fung have earned a late entry into the US$8 million World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, Australia, next month, as Malaysia will make a welcome return to the team event for the first time since 2001.
Following the withdrawal of Fijian Vijay Singh, Chia received the nod as the next highest-ranked golfer in the world to compete in the 28-nation event at Kingston Heath Golf Club on Nov 24-27.
The two-time Asian Tour champion, who will be making his third World Cup of Golf appearance, subsequently picked Fung as his partner. The 26-year-old Fung, currently 23rd on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, will be making his debut in the team event.
Chia and Fung were partners when Team Asia lost to Team Europe in the EurAsia Cup on home soil in January. They halved their fourball match and foursomes match with Victor Dubuisson and Soren Kjeldsen to emerge as stars of the Asian team.
The 43-year-old Chia said: “I’m delighted to get into the World Cup of Golf. It’s been a while since Malaysia last qualified and coming so soon after I played in the Olympic Games, this is fantastic news for me and Nicholas.
“We don’t get to represent our country too often as professional golfers and to do so twice this year is an absolute treat. We certainly hope to play our best and fly the country’s flag high in Australia.”
Chia enjoyed his best season last year when he finished eighth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, thanks to a second Asian Tour win of his career. In recent years, he has taken Fung under his wing, regularly playing practice rounds together and offering advice to his younger compatriot.
“I picked Nicholas as my partner simply because of the fact that we had so much fun playing together in the EurAsia Cup and he’s also in good form this year.
"We practice quite regularly together and obviously know each other’s game well which will help in the fourball and foursomes format. It’ll be fun going to the World Cup of Golf with him,” said Chia, currently ranked 246th in the world.
Fung was over the moon to earn his maiden World Cup of Golf appearance after missing the boat to the Olympics. “I’m thankful Danny picked me. I’m so excited with the opportunity and I’m looking forward to partnering my mentor in Australia,” said Fung, who has three top-10s and one top-15 on the Asian Tour in recent months.
THE MALAYSIAN campaign in the Australian Hockey League (AHL) came too a grinding halt Wednesday, when all three teams failed to qualify for the semi-finals in Perth.
Making their debut, Malaysia were represented by their national (Tigers) and men's back-up squads (Blues) and the national women's team (Tigress).
Yesterday, the Tigress took to the field against Victorian Vipers and needed a win to make the last four, but were instead hammered 6-2.
The Tigers also had a bad outing, and crashed 5-2 to club side NSW Waratahs to seal their lower classification fate.
Meanwhile, the national juniors will open their Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) campaign against England at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.
The tournament will be held on Oct 31-Nov 6 and the other four teams are Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Japan.
With the exception of Malaysia, all the other teams will be using the SOJC to prepare for the Junior World Cup in Uttar Pradesh, India, on Dec 8-18.
A total of 14 players eligible to play in the SOJC are currently playing in the AHL with the senior and development teams.
Three players, Najmi Farizal, Nik Aiman Rozemi and Najib Hassan are with the Tigers.
Those with the Blues are Rizwan Azmi, Firdaus Omar, Lukman Nur Hakim, Nor Azmi Rahman, Syed Shafiq Syed Cholan, Amirul Aideed, Ashran Hamsani, Rafizul Ezry, Norsyafiq Sumantri, Sufi Ismat and Akhimullah Anuar.
However the three in the senior squad coached by Stephen van Huizen may be required to play in the Asian Champions Trophy that will be held in Kuantan on October 20-30.
A few other players are currently in training and the team is expected to have a couple of days training in Johor Baru before the tournament.
"We will take it one match at a time and I have an indication of the players that will carry our challenge in the SOJC," said Malaysian coach Wallace Tan who is with the Blues in Perth now.
The SOJC, organised by the Johor Hockey Association, is the only junior invitational tournament in the world and made its debut in 2011 with Malaysia emerging as champions.
MALAYSIAN TIGRESS
THE Malaysian Blues suffered another blow Down Under, and this time it was a 3-1 defeat in the hands of Canberra Lakers in the Australian Hockey League (AHL) in Perth Monday.
The Blues, Malaysia's back-up squad coached by Wallace Tan, lost their fourth consecutive match in their AHL debut.
They lost 4-2 to India Juniors, 2-0 to Western Australia, 4-0 to SA Hotshots and even though were 1-1 at one point yesterday, collapsed in the fourth quarter.
Canberra Lakers took a 24th minute lead, but RAFIZUL EZRY equalsied in the 29th minute off a field goal. However, two more goals in the 50th and 54th minutes doomed the Blues.
The Malaysian national women's team, Tigress, were in better form as they beat SA Suns 4-2 to keep alive a chance of playing in the semi-finals.
Skipper Siti Noor Amarina opened scoring in the fourth minute and added another in the 30th minute. The other goals were scored by Fazilla Slyvester Silin (33rd) and Surizan Awang (37th).
The women have two wins and a draw for seven points.
RESULTS: Men -- Malaysian Blues 1 Canberra Lakers 3.
Women: Malaysian Tigress 4 SA Suns 2.
Tuesday: Men -- Malaysian Tigers v New South Wales.
Wednesday: Women -- Malaysian Tigress v Victorian Vipers.
MALAYSIAN Tigers finally won a match Down Under in the Australian Hockey League when they beat Northern Territories 3-1 in Perth Sunday.
However the Malaysian back-up team, Blues lost 4-0 to SA Hotshots.
The Tigers, Malaysia's national team, scored off Shahril Saabah (seventh), Firhan Ashaari (28th) and Haziq Samsul (37th).
In the earlier matches, the Tigers drew 1-1 with New Zealand Futures and lost 5-2 to Queensland.
The Blues have lost all their matches thus far.
RESULTS: Men -- Malaysian Tigers 3 Northern Territories 1, Malaysian Blues 0 SA Hotshots 4.
MONDAY: Men -- Malaysia Blues v Canberra Lakers
Women: Malaysia Tigress v SA Suns.
TUESDAY: Malaysia Tigers v New South Wales.
