SOJC test for Arul's boys...

MALAYSIAN juniors will know their standings in the world when they are pitted against some of the best juniors in the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) beginning Sunday at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor.
   Defending SOJC champions India hope to ride at the back of their seniors Asian Games winning streak to defend their gold. The other teams silver medallist Malaysia will be up against are Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Great Britain.
  Much is at stake in Johor, as the SOJC is the only under-21 tournament in the world which is sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the other being the Junior World Cup.
   Coach Arul Selvaraj, who named his final 18 yesterday, said that he has selected the best in the country, and it is a balanced squad.
   "This is the first tournament for the boys since the team was formed in June, so they are also an unknown entity. However, I expect them to give their best, and of course we would like to play in the final, but there is no early target for these boys," said Arul.
    The team is being groomed for the 2016 Junior World Cup in India. For the record, Malaysia finished fourth in the last World Cup, also in India.
   Today, Arul's boys will open accounts against Australia at 8pm.
   India, riding high on their intense training sessions of the last few weeks, are looking at nothing less than a golden harvest.
  Led by captain Harjeet Singh India will open accounts against New Zealand today: "We are a new team but we have the same old dream to retain the Sultan of Johor Cup with us. We have been practicing together as a single unit for the last few weeks and are very confident on achieving the goal. Our first match against New Zealand is crucial as starting a tournament on a winning note will boost the morale of the team and will help continue the winning dominance," said Harjit.
   As for India coach Harendra Singh:  "The team is geared up for the SOJC and without carrying any burden of previous achievements, we will focus on playing high-level and technically sound hockey”.
   MALAYSIA: Ridzwan Azmi, Fitri Jasni, Ashran Hamsani, Luqman Nul Haqim, Azril Misron, Najib Hassan, Meor Azuan, Sufi Ismat, Haziq Samsul, Firdaus Omar, Norsyafiq Sumantri, Amirol Aideed, Shahril Saabah, Syed Shafiq, Ahmad Ashraf, Azwar Rahman, D. Selvanayagam, Najmi Farizal.
    SUNDAY: Pakistan v Great Britain (4pm); New Zealand v India (6pm); Malaysia v Australia (8pm).

Ru wrests Sime Darby LPGA lead

By Jugjet Singh

SOUTH Korean Ru So Yeon was the coolest chick at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday as she did not wilt under the burning sun to wrest the Sime Darby LPGA lead by two strokes with a six-under 65 for an 11-under 131 total.
   She was hot on the heels of overnight leader   Stacy Lewis of the United States afrer the opening round, but traded her five-under for  a six-under second round score to stand alone at the top of the leader-board.
   Stacy, however, found the going tough yesterday as she could only post a par-71 in the second round to drop tied-11th on a 136 total.
   Japanese Ayako Uehara was the surprise package of the day as she shot the lowest round of eight-under 63 for an nine-under 133 total to jump up the ranks to be tied second with Korean Ji Eun-Hee, Lydia Ko (Aust) and Jodi Ewart (Eng). The foresome are just two strokes adrift of the leader.
   South Korean golfers have won six of the past seven LPGA tournaments, and the Malaysian title also looks like it is going their way.
    The leader birdied five of her first seven holes: "It is really hot today, and I did well on the front, but on the return, my energy level was so low and this affected my game.
   "But still, 66 and 65 is good score under my belt. You know, coming to Malaysia I always expect really hot weather, but Monday through Wednesday it wasn't really hot.
   "So, I thought, Oh, maybe it's going to be cold. Well, you know, since yesterday heat is coming up and my body the conditions changed drastically on Thursday and Friday," said Ru.
   However, the kept her cool when Korean and Malaysian fans fanned her with encouragements.
   "The good thing about this is that many Malaysian and Korean fans came out to cheer me and it was a  really big boost for my energy."
     And from a control freak, she is now a much sane player after a few visits to her psychiatrist.
  "After a few meetings with my psychiatrist I found out my problem is that I want to control everything on the golf course. I'm human being. I cannot control everything.
   "I try to do and choose what I can do on the golf and not try to fight what I cant control. These days that makes me enjoy my game more," said Ru.
    Ayako Uehara had an amazing 63, but her English was not as amazing: "I had many birdy chances in the first round but did not make them. Today (yesterday) it was better and I am up there now. Also I like this Tour, as I can visit many countries and I like it."
    Simply amazing display from Ayako as she had a flawless game of eight birdies and made golf look so easy.

Stacy leads Sime Darby LPGA

By Jugjet
 
WORLD No 1 Stacy Lewis of the United States held on tightly onto a shaky one-shot lead with a mob of South Koreans snapping at her heels in the Sime Darby LPGA at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.
   Shooting a flawless six-under 65, the American will have to play better gold today to fend of the chasing pack.
   Na Yeon Choi,  Park Hee Young, Ji Eun-Hee and Ryu So Yeon are the K-Pop  group singing behind the American bunched at five-under.
   And after a break from China's Feng Shanshan; Lee Mi Hyang, Shin Jenny and Yang Amy continue the Korean run at four-under and bunched at tied-sixth.
   The weather was hot, and hazy, but the ladies dazzled the crowd with some spectacular putting skills.
     Yesterday, the World No 1 used an aggressive approach on the ninth hole, an approach that led to three consecutive birdies on nine, 10th and 11th. She finished with a bogey-free round and a feeling that she was able to get through the day.
    “Another week I got off to a good start again. It was kind of one of those rounds that early it was actually kind of shaky and had to make a few par putts on the first three holes, but really just kind of hung in there and gave myself a lot of birdie looks at it and was fortunate to make a few. So it was a little bit of an ugly round, but I got a lot out of it.”
     So Yeon Ryu, who after an opening round 66, credited a golf simulator with the growth of golf in Korea. When she was younger, many of her friends were unfamiliar with the game so it was hard to connect with them.
   “After the golf simulator business, people start to play more golf, and I believe our golf population is going to increase a lot,” said said.
    Natalie Gulbis (US) shot 69, Karrie Webb (Aust) carded 70, and Lexi Thompson (US) — who won by four strokes here last year — had a 71. Paula Creamer (US) shot 75.
    Korean Na Yeon Choi had a super day: “I had a great day.  I think the good thing is I started very early, first group, as it was a little bit cooler.
  “But in the afternoon, the heat affected my focus out there.  I think that's why I missed a couple of fairways on the back nine.
   “That's why I got one bogey out there.  But I don't have any regrets out there.  My putt was good.  After last week I had practiced a lot for short game, and I think it just paid off,” said Yeon Choi.

FIRST ROUND SCORES: 65 Stacy Lewis (US).
66 Ji Eun-Hee, Ryu So Yeon, Park Hee Young, Choi Na Yeon (S Kor).
67 Pornanong Phatlum (Thai), Lee Mi Hyang, Jenny Shin, Amy Yang (S Kor), Feng Shanshan (Ch).
68 Catriona Matthew (Scot), Karine Icher (Fra), Haru Nomura (Jpn), Lizette Salas (US), Carlota Ciganda (Sp); 69 Lydia Ko (NZ), Juleita Granada (Par), Azahara Munoz (Sp), Angela Standford, Danielle Kang, Brittany Lang, Gerina Piller, Natalie Gulbis (US), Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Lee-Anne Pace (SA), Ariya Jutanugara, Moriya Jutanugara (Thai), Choi Chella (S Kor), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (Eng).
70 Lee Ilhee (S Kor), Pernilla Lindberg (Swe), Ayako Uehara (Jpn), Karrie Webb, Dori Carter, Kris Tamulus (US), Tidapa Suwannapura (Thai), Beatriz Ricari (Sp), Christina Kim (US), Yoo Sun Young (S Kor).
71 Jessica Korda, Lexi Thompson, Morgan Pressel, Marina Alex, Austin Ernst (US), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Laura Davies (Eng), Mirim Lee, Hur Mi JIng (S Kor), Katherine Kirk (Aus), Line Vedel (Den), K. Muangkhumsakul (Thai), Candie Kung (Tai), Dewi Claire Schreefel (Ned), Jennifer Rosales (Phil).
72 Charley Hull (Eng), Caroline Masson (Ger), Lin Xi Yu (Ch), Michelle Koh (Mas), Laura Diaz (US); 73 Belen Mozo (Sp), Sandra Gal (Ger), Tiffany Joh (US), Oh Ji Young (S Kor), Ainil Johani Abu Bakar, Aretha Pan (Mas).
74 Kelly Tan (Mas), Kang Haeji (S Kor), Sarah Jane Smith (Aus), Kim Kaufman (US), Mariajo Uribe (Col); 75 Paula Creamer, Mina Hariage (US), Michele Low, Jean Chua (Mas); 79 Amelia Lewis (US).

Rio a million kilometres away for Malaysia

COMMENT
BY Jugjet Singh

IN these rainy days, this column is not being written to steal the ‘almost there’ thunder from the hockey team, but as an early warning that Malaysia’s chances of qualifying for the Rio de Janerio Olympics have reached the F mark in their fuel tank.
The Asian Games was the best chance for Arul Selvaraj’s men to play in Brazil two years from now, but the few near misses in Incheon might just see Malaysia sit out of the Olympics for 16 years.
For the 0-0 effort in the Asian Games semi-finals was erased when Pakistan won 6-5 in the shoot-out. And even though Malaysia only lost 2-1 in Group A and then 3-2 to South Korea in the bronze classification, there is no reason to celebrate the close shaves.
For, now Malaysia will have to play in the World League Semi-finals, and the early indications are that even South Korea and Pakistan are going to find this route difficult to reach Rio.
Those who claim that there was not enough time to prepare the team should look back and digest this fact — Pakistan didn’t play in any international tournament since November 2013 whereas Malaysia played in the Azlan Shah Cup, Champions Challenge 1, World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
Pakistan also almost did not travel to Incheon, as their troubled association did not have enough cash but somehow managed to string a budget at the 11th hour.
Malaysia, realistically, had been in training for the last two years for the Asian Games and the fourth place finish, as compared to Pakistan’s silver, has turned on the hazard lights.
The route to Rio is wet and slippery, and even Brazil who are now ranked 34th, must move to 30th in the world to be eligible to qualify as hosts.
The Asian Games was one of the five continental championships, and the other four qualifiers to Rio will be gold medallists from Africa, Oceania, Europe and South America.
And assuming Brazil break into the 30th, this will leave only six more spots to the Olympics and three each will be on offer in the two World League Semi-finals.
So Malaysia must finish among the top-four in the World League, and hope some of the continental champions finish higher than them, just like the route to the World Cup where they finished fifth in the qualifier but still made it.
This will be hoping against hope, so the World Cup disaster, the embarrassing Commonwealth Games and the almost there Asian Games must be taken as a challenge to improve and not wait on luck.
For this to happen, the players must have the heart to play like the Pakistan teams. They did not have any international exposure, no money, and almost did not travel to Korea but took home a silver medal at the back of a gold medal in the last Games.
And if the sound of three booming thunders this year does not wake Malaysian hockey up, the forecast is that there will be consistent rain and little sunshine as we slip and fall at every stage for the next decade.

Goalkeeper Ash pulls on pads for the Burras

Ash Thomas is preparing to pull on the green-and-gold.

 

NEWS LOCAL: Ash Thomas is the last line of defence, but he wouldn’t have it any other way, and his leadership at the back has earned him a guernsey in the Australian under-21 hockey team.

The 18-year-old from Baulkham Hills is used to playing representative hockey, and has close to a decade under his belt in the keeping pads.
Thomas, who plays representative for the NSW under-21s and Sydney, will be heading to Malaysia to compete at the Sultan Johor Cup with the Burras.

Ash Thomas is from Baulkham Hills.

Ash Thomas is the last line of defence.

 

Thomas and his teammates have been selected to pull on the green-and-gold at this tournament as they are prospects for the 2016 Junior World Cup.
The Sultan Johor Cup is a chance for the Aussies to gain valuable first class international experience at junior level.
Australia’s Burras will face Great Britain, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Pakistan in the six team round-robin competition in Johor Bahru, between October 12-19.
After departing on October 6, Thomas and his team will face Singapore and New Zealand in two warm-up games in Singapore prior to arriving in Malaysia on October 9.
And the young keeper is sure to be tested.

Flashback: Hockey runs in the family, Ash (with his younger brother Cody) in 2010.

 

The Burras will be led by Head Coach Ben Bishop, who has served as an assistant coach to the senior men, the Kookaburras, for the past 18 months.
Hockey Australia’s National Junior Coach, Paul Gaudoin, who leads the program said: “The Sultan Johor Cup provides an opportunity for our young athletes to compete on an international stage at the only FIH-endorsed junior international competition outside of the Junior World Cup.”
“It’s a valuable opportunity for our athletes to be exposed to different international playing styles ranging from Asian teams to European teams, and Oceania teams, to experience different cultures, and to be exposed to all that goes on in and around international tournaments,” he said.
“Tours such as this allow us to assess our young athletes on an international stage, to help with their individual development to become Kookaburras of the future.”