Argentina ladies win Olympic beauty contest..

Do you recognize the Las Leonas, wearing pink and purple? It's the London look for the team (Photo: CAH)

A British favour

BRITAIN made sure that Malaysia will not end seventh when they beat Pakistan 2-1. Now the British would be looking for Malaysia to return the favour by beating/draw Argentina and place GB in the final against NZ. 
  Half-time MAS 0 ARG 0.

STANDINGS
                        P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS

N ZEALAND    6   4   0    2    18      8      12
BRITAIN         6   3   2    1      13     11     11
ARGENTINA   5   3    0    2     14    16     9
INDIA             6   3    0    3     12     15      9
S KOREA        6   2    2    2      11      8      8
MALAYSIA      5   1    2    2     10      13     5
PAKISTAN      6   1    0    5     9       16      3

 RESULTS: South Korea 1 New Zealand 0, Britain 2 Pakistan 1, Argentina x Malaysia x.
   TODAY: Final -- (8.35pm); Third-Fourth:  (6.05pm); Fifth-Sixth: (3.30pm).

Ipoh to host 2013 Asia Cup

FIH president Leandro Negre from Spain with Sultan Azlan Shah

PIC BY: http://www.malaysianhockey.blogspot.com/

The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) yesterday decided that  Ipoh will host the 2013 Asia Cup, which also doubles up as a  2014 World Cup Qualifier.
    The AHF Council decided on Malaysia instead of Singapore, the initial hosts.
    “We have decided to award the host job to Malaysia and I  am happy to announce that it will be held in Ipoh next year,”  said AHF President Sultan Azlan Shah.
     “The dates have yet to be determined as we will also have  to take into consideration the annual Azlan Shah Cup.”
     Malaysia last played in the World Cup in 2002 when they  hosted the event. Prior to that Malaysia qualified for the 1998  Utrecht World Cup after a 16 years with their previous  appearance being in 1982 in Bombay.
      Sultan Azlan also announced that the AHF-MHC Academy  will now be known as the Raja DatukSeri Ashaman Academy,  in honour of the second son of Sultan Azlan Shah who passed  away on March 30 this year.
     On the Malaysian team’s performance in the Azlan Shah  Cup: “I am not happy with the performance as we concede  easy goals, especially in the match against New Zealand,”  said Sultan Azlan.
      “We need to work on our defense as it leaks easily. But I  must say I am pleased with the performance of the young  players in the team as they have put up a decent performance.”

Faizal primed EHL debut..

Faizal Saari celebrates his goal during the Malaysia-China match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou 2010.

NATIONAL juniors coach K. Dharmaraj is looking to send  20 of his charges to play in overseas leagues, as the offers  have been pouring in since Malaysia won the Junior Asia  Cup.
    Faizal Saari, six goals in the Junior Asia Cup and four goals  in the ongoing Azlan Shah Cup, has received an offer to play  for a Spanish club in the European Hockey League.
    “My target is to have at least 20 juniors playing overseas  this year and arrangements are currently being handled by  team manager Mirnawan Nawawi.
    “There have been offers from New Zealand, Australia,  Spain, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Ireland for the  juniors and the only thing holding back is the uncertainty  over the local calendar,” said Dharmaraj.
   The worry is over the Malaysian Hockey League, as if it is  held in August onwards, many players who have signed one- year contracts with clubs will not be able to travel over seas.
    “I hope if the scheduled stints clash with the MHL, the local  league would be postponed to a later date as it would be  difficult to get release from clubs who have signed the juniors  for the whole year,” lamented Dharmaraj.
     As for Faizal: “He is fast becoming an asset to Malaysian  hockey and if he plays for the Spanish club, it will be top- notch exposure in the competitive EHL (European Hockey  League),” said Dharmaraj.
     Faizal and Shukri Mutalib played in the Australian Hockey  League last year, after Faizal showed super form to score  three goals in the last Azlan Shah Cup.
     “Izzat (Sumantri) and Noor Faeez (Ibrahim) played in the  Dutch League (in 2010) and their transformation was just  amazing.
   “Back then, the players were supported by the National  Sports Council as clubs were not ready to fork their bill. But  now, our juniors are receiving offers which cover their flight,  accommodation and other benefits.
    “This certainly is a turning point for Malaysian hockey and  the opportunity must not be missed,” said Dharmaraj.

Take Argies or go bust..

MALAYSIA wrap-up their Azlan Shah Cup pool fixtures  against Argentina today, and a defeat might see them having  a rest day on Sunday.
    Malaysia, who finished seventh last year, might just end up  with the same number if Pakistan and South Korea win their  matches.
    And there is no classification match for the seventh placed  team on Sunday.
   “It will be a difficult as Argentina would be looking to play  in their second Azlan Shah Cup final. We can’t afford to let in  easy goals and then chase in the second half, that will have to  change tomorrow (today),” said Malaysian coach Tai Beng  Hai who is staring at his last assignment as the Malaysian  Hockey Confederation scout for a foreign replacement.
    For the record, Malaysia came back from behind to hold  South Korea 1-1, then another comeback to hold Britain 3-3  and finally their third comeback to beat Pakistan 3-2.
    And the last time Malaysia played Argentina was in the  Champions Challenge where Beng Hai’s men took a 2-0 lead  only to collapse 5-2.
    “We have much in stake in the final encounter as a win will  not only give us a middle finish, but also pave the way for  India to pip Argentina into the final,” said
     New Zealand have already checked into the final on 12  points with a South Korea match in hand today, so they will  not push themselves to the limit with 24 hours to the title  battle.
    For the record, it is the first final Azlan Shah Cup appearance for the Kiwis, while Argentina has won the title in 2008.

 STANDINGS
                        P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS

N ZEALAND    5   4   0    1    18      7      12
ARGENTINA   5   3    0    2     14    16     9
INDIA            6   3    0    3     12     15      9
BRITAIN         5   2   2    1      11     10     8
S KOREA        5   1    2    2      10      8      5
MALAYSIA      5   1    2    2     10      13     5
PAKISTAN      5   1    0    4     8       14      3

 JUNE 2: South Korea v New Zealand (4pm), Britain v Pakistan (6pm), Argentina v Malaysia (8pm).