WORLD LEAGUE ROUND TWO
SINGAPORE -- JAN 17-25

GROUP A: Malaysia, Oman, Ukraine, Singapore.
GROUP B: Japan, Poland, Bangladesh, Mexico.


FIXTURES (Malaysian time):
  Jan 17: Group A: Malaysia v Ukraine (5.30pm), Oman v Singapore

(8pm); Group B: Japan v Bangladesh (9am), Poland v Mexico (3pm).
  Jan 18: Group B: Bangladesh v Mexico (3pm), Poland v Japan (5.30pm).
  Jan 19: Group A: Ukraine v Singapore (3pm), Oman v Malaysia

(5.30pm).
  Jan 20: Group A: Ukraine v Oman (5.30pm), Malaysia v Singapore

(8pm); Group B: Japan v Mexico (9am), Bangladesh v Poland (3pm).
  Jan 21: REST DAY
  Jan 22: Quarter-finals
  Jan 23: Fifth-Eighth
  Jan 24: Semi-finals
  Jan 25: Final and placing matches.

Baljit back in the fold..

BALJIT SINGH Charun (pic) was the surprise inclusion when national coach Tai Beng Hai named his 18 for the World League Round Two in Singapore on Jan 17-25.
  Baljit was left out in the cold last year, as he was dropped from the World Cup as well as the Asian Games and only played in the Commonwealth Games.
  The squad, to be led by penalty corner flicker and defender Razie Rahim, have been tasked to finish top-two in Singapore as there teams will get the chance to play in the World League Semi-finals where tickets to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics await.
  "We have selected the best and the target is for the team to enter the final as only three teams will play in the next qualifier either in Argentina or Belgium," said Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad.
  Beng Hai again reiterated that the tournament will start at the semi-finals stage for his players.
  "We should make the semi-finals, where the actual tournament will start as we need to make it into the final and claim the World League Semi-finals ticket early.
  "And as the top-ranked team in the tournament, the target is achievable," said Beng Hai.
  Malaysia are in Group A with Oman, Ukraine and Singapore while in Group B are Japan, Poland, Bangladesh and Singapore.
  All eight teams qualify for the quarter-finals, and Malaysia must finish as group champions to play against likely opponents Bangladesh of Mexico.
  Seasoned goalkeeper S. Kumar, who helped Malaysia qualify for the last World Cup by being a pillar in the penalty shoot-out against Japan in the World League Semi-finals, had a word of caution.
  "I am ready to help the country qualify for the next round, but my mates and I know that lower ranked teams are no longer push-overs and we need to subdue them in the first two quarters by scoring as many goals as possible.
  "If not, they grow in confidence and will be difficult to handle in the next two quarters," said Kumar.
  His caution is timely, as Malaysia did take Trinidad and Tobago lightly in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and suffered a humiliating 4-2 defeat in the hand of the minnows.
  Baljit, after being sidelined by previous coaches, has the full backing of Beng Hai.
  "I ready to play for the country again, and give my best to take the team to the next level. I missed the World Cup, so my next dream is to play in the Rio Olympics," said Baljit.
  Baljit was an unfortunate casualty last year, as after helping Malaysia finish fifth in the World League Semi-finals and qualifying for the World Cup, he was bundled out of the team unceremonially and missed a lifetime chance to play in The Netherlands.
   TEAM: Goalkeepers: S. Kumar, Roslan Jamaluddin; Defenders: Azlan Misron, Baljit Singh Charun, Sukri Mutalib, Izad Hakimi, Razie Rahim; Midfielders: Shahrun Nabil, Faiz Helmi, Meor Azuan, Fitri Saari, Marhan Jalil, Nabil Fiqri; Forwards: Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Faizal Saari, Izwan Firdaus, Firhan Ashaari, Haziq Samsul.

Dont blow up rosy road to WL Semis..

NATIONAL chief coach Tai Beng Hai will select his final 18 for the World League Round Two today, with fitness still a nagging problem.
  The tournament, in Singapore from Jan 17-25, offers three teams the chance to play in the World League Semi-finals either in Belgium or Argentina, which in turn opens a door to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
  Beng Hai's selection is based on performances in the Asian and Commonwealth Games, as well as the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) and recent Poland friendlies.
  "I have been with the team for more than two weeks now, and the biggest hurdle is fitness as the form of many players had dropped after playing for their clubs in the MHL.
  "This has been a perennial problem, but the good news is that the MHL was played for four-quarters (same as the World League) and I feel the players I will name, will have no problem finishing among the top-three to claim our spot in the World League Semi-finals," said Beng Hai.
  Malaysia are the top-seeds in Singapore, but their run-up has not been too promising as they drew 4-4 and then lost 4-3 to Poland who made a stop-over on their way to Singapore.
  "Fitness was one of the reasons why we did not do well against Poland, but I am confident that my players will not disappoint during the tournament.
  "My selection is based on players performances in the Asian and Commonwealth Games, as well as leadership shown for their various clubs in the MHL.
  "Some players have improved, while some will need a little more pushing before we are ready," said Beng Hai.
  With time not on his side, Beng Hai will have to make sure Malaysia emerge tops in Group A as they only have Oman, Ukraine and Singapore to play against.
  Singapore were in Group B earlier, but when Fiji withdrew and were replaced by Mexico, the hosts will play Malaysia now.
  The format is such that all eight teams play in the quarter-finals, and if Malaysia finish tops in Group A, they will probably be paired with Bangladesh or Mexico in the quarter-finals.
  Beng Hai is already looking at the semi-finals: "Going by seeding, we will possibly meet either Japan or Poland in the semi-finals, and that is the game to win and enter the final to claim our World League Semi-finals ticket early."
  The road to either Belgium or Argentina looks rosy at the moment for top-seeded Malaysia, but we have lost to the likes of Trinidad and Tobago last year, and this is the banana skin which Beng Hai and his men must avoid at all cost when they play lower ranked sides like Oman and Ukraine in Group A, and either Bangladesh or Mexico in the quarter-finals.
  Group A: Malaysia, Oman, Ukraine, Singapore; Group B: Japan, Poland, Bangladesh, Mexico.

Malacca Boys lift 5s title

 Champions: Malacca Boys with UPM Vice Chancellor Prof Dato Dr. Mohammad Fauzi Haji Ramlan

MALACCA Boys were crowned champions in the Second Edition of the UPM Hockey 5's at the Ministry of Education Stadium in Kuala Lumpur when they beat Star Klang A 3-1 in the final.
  In the girls category, the title went to Kuala Lumpur Sports School A who beat Convent Bukit Nenas HT 4-1.
  A total of 24 Under-16 teams competed in the day long tournament organised by the UPM Sports Academy and supported by Milo, Sports Unite and Selangor Hockey Association.


Special Awards

Boys'
Best Goalkeeper : Farhan Syarin Hassan ( Malacca Boys)
Top Scorer: Mohd Izham ( Akademi Hoki Pahang)
Best Player: Muhd Nor Asyraf Ishak ( Malacca Boys)

Girls'
Best Goalkeeper : Siti Zalina ( KLSS A)
Top Scorer Asidah Nawar ( KLSS A)
Best Player : Nadia Aqilah ( KLSS A)

Boys'
Champions : Malacca Boys
Runners Up: Star Klang A
Third : Akademi Sukan Pahang
Fourth : Pahang Sports School

Girls'
Champion: KL Sports School A
Runner Up: Convent Bukit Nenas HT
Third: KL Sports School C
Fourth: Star Klang Girls

TNB CUP FINAL: Too close to call

KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) will be out to defend their TNB Cup, while Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) wants to lay their hands on a new trophy in what is expected to be an explosive Malaysia Hockey League final today.
  THT has already robbed KLHC of their League title, but coach K. Dharmaraj is not willing to lose the second trophy.
  "It will not be easy for us to defend the TNB Cup against a team teeming with speedy forwards, but we won't make it easy for them too as we aim to defend out title at all cost," said KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj.
  THT coach Sarjit Singh, in his usual laid-back manner, said his team are ready to be crowned double champions.
  "When we selected the local players and went hunting for Koreans, we had the double in mind and after winning the League, I believe my players are capable of winning the TNB Cup as well," said Sarjit.
  KLHC had to sweat buckets in the semi-finals as Tenaga held them to 1-1 and 2-2 draws, before bowing out 3-1 on penalties.
  THT were beaten 3-2 by Maybank, before romping home 8-1 with style.
  There will also be another contest on the field as national No 1 penalty corner flicker Razie Rahim of KLHC tries to score as well as stop current top top scorer Faizal Saari tried to increase his 14 goal tally.
  Razie, with 12 goals, also has the daunting task of trying to stop THT's Korean terror Jang Jong-Hyun from increasing his nine-goal tally during penalty corners.
  But the lanky lad has played in seven finals for KLHC, and is not worried with the heavy task on his shoulders.
  "My team-mates will depend on me to score off penalty corners as well as defend penalty corners but it does not worry me much, as I am a team player and personal glory like top-scorer do not matter to me.
  "All that matters is that I combine well with my mates to delieve the TNB Cup to our club," said Razie.
  Jang, South Korea's No 1 penalty corner flicker, has not been consistent but can be deadly: "We have been playing well this season, and I believe we have enough good players to give KLHC a very good fight in the final."
  For the record, KLHC beat THT 2-1 in Round One, but THT thrashed Dharmaraj's side 5-1 in Round Two.
  TODAY: TNB CUP Final: KLHC v TNT (5pm, Pitch II); Third-Fourth: Maybank v Tenaga (3pm, Pitch II).