Kumar back in action...

By Jugjet Singh

April 21, 2018 @ 7:44pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Great news for the Malaysian hockey team. Goalkeeper S. Kumar, who failed a doping test in October, will be back in action on Monday after serving his “suspension”.

   The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) will hold a press conference on Monday to announce the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) decision not to penalise Kumar any further than the six months that he has been out in the cold.

   NSTP Sport came to know about this latest development from a reliable source.

  Kumar failed a doping test during the Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh in October when a small amount of sibutramine, prohibited by the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada), was found in his urine sample.

  Malaysia lost to India 2-1 in the final of the Asia Cup, which was their best performance before Kumar was banned.

  Once rated as the No 1 goalkeeper in Asia, Kumar did not play in the recent Azlan Shah Cup and Commonwealth Games, where Malaysia finished fourth and fifth respectively.

  However, Kumar will now be available for the Asian Games in Jakarta on Aug 18-Sept 2.

  The source said Kumar did not even have to attend any FIH hearing because of his good record, as well as his declaration that he did not use any substance to enhance his performance. Sibutramine is normally used for slimming purposes.

  Kumar has amassed 295 caps for the country and undergone about 10 doping tests throughout his career, testing negative in all.

  He did not train with the national players after his urine sample was found to be positive, but six months of being away from the sport should pose no problems for Kumar to get back into shape for the Asian Games. 

  With Malaysia hoping to win their first Asian Games gold medal and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, an experienced goalkeeper will certainly help their cause.

JHL Div 2 final: Penang the underdogs

KUALA LUMPUR: Penang's MSSP-PSHA feel they will be entering the field as underdogs against Malacca's MBMB Warriors in the Division Two final of the Junior Hockey League (JHL) today.
  Malacca were Group A champions with a clean record in six matches, and they scored a mammoth 47 goals and only let in only three.
  As for Penang, they emerged as Group B champions with five wins and a draw, scoring 39 goals and letting in six.
  "I have watched Malacca play and they are a well rounded team and so I believe we will be the underdogs in the final," said team manager Yap Gark Soo.
  But that does not mean Penang is going to take it lying down.
  "Having reached this far, I know my players will again give their very best to claim the title before playing in the tougher Division One next season," said Gark Soo.
  Malacca and Penang are both worty winners of a promotion next season, while Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak) and Perlis Young Lions will be relegated to Division Two.
   RESULTS -- Division One: Pahang Thunderbolts 3 Anderson Thunderbolts 0, Perlis Young Lions 1 SMKDBL-UniKL 3.
  Division Two: Group X: MSSP-PSHA Juniors 0 KL Vipers 3; Group Y: TBSS Tampin 2 Anderson PHA 4.
  SUNDAY -- Division One: SSTMI v Sabah SS Resilient (SSTMI, 5pm).
  Division Two: Final -- MBMB Warriors (Malacca) v MSSPP-PSHA (Penang) (National Stadium Pitch II, 7.15pm); Third-Fourth: KL Vipers v Anderson PHA (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm).
  TUESDAY: Old La Sallians Association of Klang v Sabah SS Resilient (Pandamaran, 5pm), PJCC Tigers v BJSS Thudnerbolts (PJCC Stadium, 5pm).

JHL Div 2: Penang v Malacca final

KUALA LUMPUR: Malacca's MBMB Warriors and Penang's MSSP-PSHA wil play in the Division Two final of the boys Junior Hockey League (JHL) on Sunday.
  MBMB Warriors, who had beaten TBSS Tampin 4-1 earlier, topped Group Y when they beat Anderson PHA 6-2 at the National Stadium yesterday.
  And MSSP-PSHA edged KL Vipers 1-0 to top Group X, as they had beaten their Juniors 4-3 on Thursday.
  Penang's winner was scored by Haikal Danial in the 35th minute. The goal also will see Penang promoted to Division One next season.
  Malacca's six were scored by Fakhri Zaide (first), Hafizi Zainudin (26th), Amir Saifuddin (29th), Hariz Kamar (33rd), Hafizi Zainudin (41st), Amirul Syukri (46th), 
  And Anderson goals were scored by Amar Mustaqim Che Said (50th) and Rafiqul Husni 60th).
  The win also saw Warriors gain promotion to Division One next season, ironically, they had declined to be promoted to the higher level this season -- 'because they were not ready yet'.
  Malacca, who finished third in Division Two last season, were 'promoted' to Division One when Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) did not put up a team.
  "We declined promotion when UniKL pulled out because we were not ready for the tougher division yet. We wanted to become champions in Division Two, and be promoted on merit.
  "Now that we have earned it, we will play in the higher division next season. We still have one more match to claim the title, and even though some of my players are carrying injuries, I believe we can claim another victory," said MBMB Warriors coach Norikram Sulaiman.
  Division Two, 20 teams divided into three groups, will see the top two teams in each group battle in Group X and Group Y, with the champions playing in the final while the second placed teams play for the bronze.
  The three teams in Group X are KL Vipers, MSSPP-PSHA Jnrs and MSSPP-PSHA while in Group Y are TBSS Tampin, Anderson PHA and MBMB Warriors.
  RESULTS: Division Two -- Group Y: Anderson PHA 2 MBMB Warriors 6; Group X: KL Vipers 0 MSSP-PSHA 1.
  SATURDAY -- Division One: Pahang Thunderbolts v Anderson Thunderbolts (National Stadium Pitch, 5pm), Perlis Young Lions v SMKDBL-UniKL (Kangar, 5pm).
  Division Two: Group X: MSSP-PSHA Juniors v KL Vipers (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm); Group Y: TBSS Tampin v Anderson PHA (National Stadium Pitch II, 7.15pm).
  SUNDAY -- Division One: SSTMI v Sabah SS Resilient (SSTMI, 5pm).
  Tuesday: Old La Sallians Association of Klang v Sabah SS Resilient (Pandamaran, 5pm), PJCC Tigers v BJSS Thudnerbolts (PJCC Stadium, 5pm).

Youth Olympics: Tough for Malaysia...

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian boys and girls hockey teams are expected to face a tough time qualifying for the under-18 Youth Olympics which will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct 6-18.
  Both the teams will have to play in the final of the Hockey 5s tournament qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 25-29 to win a ticket to Argentina.
  Yesterday, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) named both the squads and boys coach Wallace Tan as well as girls coach Yahya Atan admitted it will not be an easy tournament.
  Played in a fast paced format of Five-a-Side, the Malaysian boys are in Group B with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Taiwan and Cambodia.
  The girls are in Group A with China, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
  Yahya feels China and Japan will be the main hurdles: "Malaysian girls have never qualified to play in the Youth Olympics and I expect the challenge to come from China and Japan who both qualified for the last Youth Olympics.
  "I believe my charges are ready to give their best and make the grade," said the 63-year old veteran coach.
  Boys coach Wallace Tan also said he expects a tough challenge from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
  "This is a good tournament to gauge our players as they will be under tremendous pressure against some of the best teams in the region. Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have already qualified for the Youth Olympics, and are in our group and I expect the challenge to come from both of them.
  "It will be tough, but my players are up to the challenge," said Wallace.
  The boys will be led by Junior Hockey League top-scorer Akhimullah Anuar Esook, who has scored 14 goals so far to hand Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts the League title.
  MALAYSIA -- Boys: Hamiz Ahir (GK), Arif Syafie Ishak, Akhimullah Anuar Esook, Amirul Hamizan Azhar, Muhibuddin Moharam, Noor Firdauz Rosdi, 
Syarman Mat Tee, Kamaruzaman Kamarudin, Alfarico Lance Liau.
  GIRLS: Siti Zalia Nasir (GK), Nur Atira Ismail, 
Nurmaizatul Hanim Syafi, Siti Nur Arfah Nor, Nor Asfarina Isahyifiqa Isahhidun, Siti Zulaika Hussin, Nur Fatin Fatiah Azman, Putri Nur Batrisyia Nornawawi, Elizaberth Epui Martin.
  BOYS' -- Group A: India, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand.
  Group B: Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia.
  GIRLS' -- Group A: Malaysia, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan.
  Group B: South Korea, India, Thailand, Singapore.

JHL: Division Two title battle begins..

KUALA LUMPUR: Six teams will battle for the Division Two Junior Hockey League (JHL) title beginning today with no clear favourites.
  Division Two, 20 teams divided into three groups, will see the top two teams in each group battle in Group X and Group Y, with the champions playing in the final while the second placed teams play for the bronze.
  The three teams in Group X are KL Vipers, MSSPP-PSHA Jnrs and MSSPP-PSHA while in Group Y are TBSS Tampin, Anderson PHA and MBMB Warriors.
  KL Vipers are a new team, while last season the final was between SSTMI Juniors and Sabah Sports School Resilient. Sabah won 3-1, and both the teams gained promotion to Division One this year.
  So, the six teams will not only be fighting for the Division Two title, but also promotion into the higher division next season.
  From Division One, Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak) and Perlis Young Lions will be relegated to Division Two next season.
  Friday: Division Two -- Group Y: Anderson PHA v MBMB Warriors (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm); Group X: KL Vipers v MSSP-PSHA (National Stadium Pitch II, 7.15pm).
  Saturday -- Division One: Pahang Thunderbolts v Anderson Thunderbolts (National Stadium Pitch, 5pm), Perlis Young Lions v SMKDBL-UniKL (Kangar, 5pm).
  Division Two: Group X: MSSP-PSHA v KL Vipers (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm); Group Y: TBSS Tampin v Anderson PHA (National Stadium Pitch II, 7.15pm).
  Sunday -- Division One: SSTMI v Sabah SS Resilient (SSTMI, 5pm).
  Tuesday: Old La Sallians Association of Klang v Sabah SS Resilient (Pandamaran, 5pm), PJCC Tigers v BJSS Thudnerbolts (PJCC Stadium, 5pm).
  

STANDINGS

DIVISION ONE

                    P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
SSTMI THUNDER     9  8  1  0  49 4   25
ANDERSON THUNDER    8  6  1  1  21 8   19
PAHANG THUNDER      8  5  1  2  18 16  16
SMKDBL-UNIKL     8  5  0  3  20 16  15
BJSS THUNDER        8  4  2  2  34 13  14
PJCC TIGERS     8  3  2  3  17 17  11
SSTMI             8  2  1  5  12 22   7
SABAH RESILIENT     7  2  0  5  14 33   6
PERLIS              8  1  0  7  10 30   3
OLAK             8  0  0  8   7 43   0