U14: No clear favourites

THE Boys' and Girls' National Under-14 hockey tournament will start Saturday at the Malacca Stadium, with no clear favourites.
  For the record, Pahang are the boys champions, while Sabah won the girls title last year. Singapore will make their debut in both the categories.
  SATURDAY -- BOYS': Group A: Perak v Johor (3pm, Pitch I), Kedah v Terengganu (3pm, Pitch II); Group B: Kelantan v Kuala Lumpur (4.45pm, Pitch I), Selangor v Negri Sembilan (4.45pm, Pitch II); Sabah v Singapore (6.30pm, Pitch I), Malacca v Perlis (8.15pm, Pitch I).
  GIRLS': Group B: Johor v Terenggnau (7.30am, Pitch I), Negri v Penang (7.30am, Pitch II).
  Note: All matches at Malacca Stadium.

MHC: We love our women, too

HOCKEY LETTER

To all hockey enthusiasts, fans and members of the distinguished hockey community,
  We have just concluded Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) and Despite several setbacks and challenges, the general response received was positive.
  In spite of the extremely short preparatory period, the 
Competitions Committee along with hockey's stakeholders and 
administrators have delivered a truly exciting and well-received 
tournament. For this we congratulate everyone.
  The MHL has unearthed several talents. Two of which are 
Kirendeep Kaur - a 12-year-old girl who scored two goals in the League and J. Priyangga, a 17-year-old goalkeeper which we nominated as the Best Goalkeeper of the women's MHL.
  The coaching setup is well aware of these players and will 
feature them in our development and elite programmes. We advocate talent identification and will do our utmost to present the best possible avenue for any player to showcase their ability.
  One such case is having Kavin Kartik - a player who is not in the official men's senior training squad list - attend and undergo the ongoing training programme.
  This is merely to see if he has the required ability, tenacity and mindset to one day don the national colours.   Just like how we provide everyone with the desire and required skill level a chance at one day playing for the country, we plead for you to give us the same in matters concerning the governance of hockey.
  This is a stepping stone for the development of hockey. Come 
mid-November 2015, we will be in our 6th month of administration. We believe we are headed in the right direction. Our sponsors and stakeholders are confident that our approach, although not necessarily popular, is accurate.
  We are single-minded in our pursuit for progress. However, our focus is not entirely on Men's hockey. Our Blue Print, recently launched at the National Sports Council and witnessed by all key stakeholders and numerous representatives from the media, indicates our desire to raise the profile of the game, both for men's and women's hockey. We treat everyone equally.
   Our recent MOU with Hockey Australia is also centered around the 
development of women's hockey. Australia, in my many conversations with their extremely capable CEO, Cam Vale, is as confident as we are that our women players can one day become world beaters. Hence, the equal emphasis for exposure and development to both genders.
  In our blue print, we have stipulated the key goals for our women's and men's team at every perceivable milestone. The targets/goals as below:

1 2016 - Junior World Cup, India (Top 8 Finish) - Men
2 2017 - To qualify for the 2018 World Cup - Men and Women
3 2018 - India World Cup (Top 10 Finish) - Men
- Asian Games (Podium Finish) - Men
- Asian Games (Semi-finalists) - Women
4 2019 - To qualify for Tokyo Olympics - Men
- To qualify for World League Round 3 - Women
- To qualify for 2020 JWC - Men
- 2019 Junior Asia Cup (Semi-finalists) - Women
5 2020 - Tokyo Olympics (Top 8 Finish) - Men
- Men's Ranking - Top 10
- Women's Ranking - Top 16
- Junior Men to finish Top 6 in JWC

  Specific to Women's hockey, MHC Technical Director Terry Walsh is working closely with head coach Nasihin Nubli, to develop a long-term training programme which will look at improving key areas that require urgent attention. 
  These specific areas include physiological development, tactical 
awareness and skill acquisition. The programme is designed to 
accommodate key requirements that will form the foundation of our impending progress.
  We are already in talks with Hockey Australia and several other key hockey nations to amalgamate our calendars and 2016 will see our programmes kick-off with the required structure and purpose.   Sustainable plans must be implemented to ensure desired results are obtained.
  We will neither stand behind nor support any short term plan with unclear goals. We will also not place goals which are clearly unattainable. Our key focus is sustainable growth and progress.
  MHC is committed in ensuring that hockey in its entirety will develop. 
  Our way may not provide the desired results instantaneously, but with positive support coming from all stakeholders, we will get there.
  We thank you once again for all your support, critical or otherwise. 
Only through your passion and belief, will we one day return amongst the upper echelon of world hockey.


K. Logan Raj
CEO
MHC

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 ).