Women receive blind look from MHC

 Priyangga Jayarajah

PIC: Kirendeep Kaur Gurdip Singh (with trophy) at the USM Sixes 2014

By Jugjet Singh

COLUMN

A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD scored two goals in the women's Malaysia Hockey League, and a 17-year-old was named as the Best Goalkeeper.

  But for both these players who competed in an Open tournament, the future looks gloomy as the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) have no plans, or blueprints, or even a clue, on what to do with the women's section of the sport.

  Meet 12-year-old Kirendeep Kaur Gurdip Singh, who scored two out of the nine total The Cops scored to finish third among five teams in Group A.

  Take a bow Priyangga Jayarajah, 17, for being voted as the Best Goalkeeper playing for silver medallists SSTMI Thunderbolts.

  While the MHC recently unveiled a five-year blueprint for the men to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup, there is only Sound of Silence when asked what plans they have for the women.

  There was promise, solid basics, and good fitness in the three teams who ended up with medals in the MHL, but gold medallists Sports Excellence Centre (PKS-KPM), silver medallists SSTMI Thunderbolts and bronze medallists ATM Pernama have nothing to look forward to other than to savour their brief moment under the spotlight.

  Even though all three teams shared the entire national women's players among them, they were given a good fight by the other also rans -- like The Cops coached by former international Kelvinder Singh.

  The men have played in the Champions Trophy, World Cups and Olympics, while the women have only seen action in the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Sea Games.

  Even the Junior World Cup has eluded them, and their glory is etched in bronze.

  In the history book is their bronze achieved at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, followed by an encore in the 1985 Asia Cup in Seoul.

  In recent memory, the women were invited to play in their first Asian Champions Trophy in 2013, in Kakamigahara, Japan, when South Korea withdrew.

  The wild card went on to win a bronze by beating women's powerhouse and then world no 7 China 1-0 in the pool, and 3-1 in the third-fourth placing.

  Malaysia were ranked 22, and China 7.

  But there was not concerted effort to elevate their standard, no foreign coach hired, and even current coach Nasihin Nubli is always unsure of where he stands, or when his contract is going to be terminated abruptly.

  And there was no mention of the ladies in the MHC blueprint, and even the Raja Noora Ashikin Cup was not held.

  There are plenty of good players, from 12 to 17, who just competed in the women's MHL Group A and Group B fixtures -- and it would be a waste if the MHC casts a blind look towards their direction, while giving their full love and attention to the men.

PKS-KPM in dream debut

By Jugjet Singh
jugjet@nst.com.my

SPORTS Excellence Centre (PKS-KPM) lifted the Malaysian Hockey League women's title when they edged SSTMI Thunderbolts 1-0 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
  It was a dream debut for PKS-KPM, as they held onto the early goal to deny a fighting Thunderbolts.
  In a balanced first half, PKS-KPM took a slim lead when they perfected a penalty corner in the fifth minute.
  Raja Norsharina scored only her second goal of the tournament, off a penalty corener rebound, to give her mates a slight edge over Thunderbolts.
  After a much needed breather, as the haze was really choking at Bukit Jalil, the game slowed down and the score stood till the end.
  PKS-KPM coach Izzwan Salleh was delighted with the win, as his team made their debut in the MHL this season.
  "I can't ask for more from my girls as they won in their debut, but the final was not as easy as the other two encounters in the group stages," said Izzwan.
  In the group, PKS-KPM beat Thunderbolts 3-1 and 4-0.
  "We have six national players, including No 1 goalkeeper Farah Ayuni to thank for this victory, as they played leading roles in the entire tournament.
  "Our funding is from UniKL (Universiti Kuala Lumpur) and I believe we will be fielding a stronger team next season," said Izzwan.
  The Third-Fourth match was abandoned as Penang Juniors could not travel because many of their players were preparing for major examinations, and the bronze went to ATM Pernama.
  RESULTS: Final -- Sports Excellence Centre (PKS-KPM) 1 SSTMI Thunderbolts 0.
  ROLL-of-HONOUR: Fairplay: ATM Pernama (RM1,000); Best Player of Final: Raja Norsharina (PKS-KPM, RM500); Best Goalkeeper of Final: J. Priyangga  (Thunderbolts, RM500); Top Scorer: Fatin Naimah (PKS-KPM, RM500); Player of the Tournament: Nuraliana Ali (PKS-KPM, RM500). 

Penang Juniors give walk over

PENANG Juniors gave a walk over to ATM Pernama in the Malaysia Hockey League women's third-fourth placing match scheduled for Saturday at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
  Penang, who lost 7-3 to ATM in the group stage, cited examinations as an excuse.
  The match was earlier postponed due to haze on Oct 3, and the new date clashes with examination preparations.
  "The Penang Juniors and ATM Pernama match will not be held, as most of the Penang players are students who are preparing for major examinations.
  "The bronze will be awarded to ATM Pernama. However, the final between SSTMI Thunderbolts and PKS-KPM will go ahead as scheduled at 6pm Saturday," said Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) competitions secretary Hashim Yusoff.
  In the group stages PKS KPM, led by national players and league top-scorers Fatin Naimah (nine goals) and Nuraini Rashid (eight goals) beat Thunderbolts 3-1.
  SATURDAY: Final: SSTMI Thunderbolts v PKS-KPM (6pm, National Hockey Stadium, Pitch II ).

Women's MHL final Saturday

THE postponed women's Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) final has been scheduled for Saturday, but haze might derail it again.

  While the men completed their fixtures on schedule, the women's tournament was first shelved for 10 days to allow players to compete in the Junior Asia Cup in China from Sept 5-13.

  Then, the haze Air Pollutant Index reading in Bukit Jalil was 279.17 on Oct 3, and the final and bronze match had to be cancelled.

  Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) competitions secretary Hashim Yusoff is keeping his fingers crossed that Saturday will be a sunny day.

  "After four days of bad weather, today (THURSDAY) was much better and hopefully it rains or the wind shifts direction and the final and third-fourth matches can be completed," said Hashim.

  SSTMI Thunderbolts and PKS-KPM will play in the final while, ATM Pernama and Penang Juniors for the bronze.

  Both the finalists are form Group B, while the placing match will be between Group A teams.

  In the group stages, PKS KPM beat Thunderbolts 3-1, while ATM hammered Penang 7-3.

  The aces in PKS KPM are league top-scorer Fatin Naimah, nine goals, and Nuraini Rashid with eight goals -- both are national senior players.

  And the players to watch in Thunderbolts are Hanis Nadiah and Nurul Safiqah who each have scored four goals for their team.

  SATURDAY: Final: SSTMI Thunderbolts v PKS-KPM (6pm); Third-Fourth: ATM Pernama v Penang Juniors (4pm).

Britain SOJC champs

BRITAIN held India to a 2-2 draw and took them to a penalty shoot-out, for a 4-3, win to lift their maiden Sultan of Johor Cup title at the Taman Daya Stadium yesterday.
  It was a thrilling final, watched by about 6,000 fans, as Britain dug deep to deny India their third SOJC title.
  Britain started with a bang, only to be denied the lead as India came back strongly to equalise.
  Luke Taylor fired a rocket of a penalty corner in the fifth minute to take his tournament tally to 10 goals, but Harmanpreet Singh equalised also off a penalty corner in the 12th minute for his fourth SOJC goal.
  Gurjant Singh gave India the lead in the 42nd minute off a field attempt, but Jack Turner scored his first SOJC goal in the 46th to level accounts again to take the match to a penalty shoot-out.
  Meanwhile, SOJC organising chairman Manjit Majid Abdullah said after the success of hosting five editions, the Taman Daya Stadium will undergo a face-lift.
  "This is fast becoming the most sought after junior invitational tournament in the world and after hosting five editions, we will increase the seating of the Taman Daya Stadium from 3,000 to 6,000 next year.
  "And even though Pakistan have finished poorly in the last two editions (sixth both times) we will still invite them for the next edition to help the Asian country develop their youth," said Manjit.
  India and Britain are the other crowd favourites and will surely be included in the Sixth Edition, which will be held one month before the New Delhi World Cup to help Malaysia, hot favourites to qualify from the Junior Asia Cup, prepare for the JWC.
  ROLL-of-HONOUR: Fairplay: Australia; Top-scorer: Luke Taylor, Britain (10 goals); Best-Goalkeeper: Chris Wyver (Britain); Player of the Tournament: Harjeet Singh (India).