ASIA CUP: India starts with a bang...

INDIA hammered Japan 5-1 to keep a strong grip of Group A in the Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh, yesterday.
  It was a slow start, as Japan held them 1-1 by the fourth minute, but India were ruthless after the second half.
  The India goals were scored by Sunil Sowmarpet (third), Lalit Upadhyay (22nd), Ramandeep Singh (33rd), Harmanpreet Singh (35th, 48th). 
  Japan got their consolation off Kenji Kitazato in the fourth minute.
  It was newly appointed coach Sjoerd Marijne’s first test after Roelant Oltmans was sacked just before the tournament and he got the desired result.

RM1.89 million boost for SO Johor Cup

FEELS GREAT...Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at the sponsorship ceremony. 

THE Seventh Edition of Sultan of Johor Cup on Oct 22-29 received a RM1.89 million sponsorship pledge in cash and kind yesterday.
  In hand to receive the sponsorship was Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
  The tournament received another boost as reigning world junior champion India will make a return after sitting out the Sixth Edition.
  India will be joined by defending champions Australia, 2015 champions Britain, crowd favourites Japan and debutants United States of America at the Taman Daya Stadium.
  Malaysia, who finished fifth last year, will face an uphill battle again.
  “We anticipate a keenly fought tournament this time around and hope that the fans will take this opportunity to watch budding youngsters of the hockey world in action,” said Johor HA President Datuk Jais Sarday.
  “This tournament is a much sought after event and although many more countries were keen, we want to keep the number at six teams.”
  Leading the contributors was the Johor State Government with RM500,000, official broadcaster RTM with RM200,000, and Astaka Padu Sdn Bhd with RM200,000.
  Other sponsors are Yayasan Harmoni (RM100,000), Genting Berhad (RM100,000), UM Land (RM100,000), Johor Corporation (RM100,000), JBB Builders (M) Sdn Bhd (RM 100,000), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (RM100,000), SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd (RM50,000), SP Setia (RM 100,000) Global Tobacco Manufacturers (International) Sdn Bhd (RM40,000), 
Iskandar Waterfront Sdn Bhd (RM50,000), Berjaya Times Square (RM50,000) and Kumpulan BCB Berhad (RM50,000).
  “We are thankful to all the sponsors who have stepped forward to help us finance the tournament,” added Datuk Jais.
  Two others, Kukreja Sdn Bhd and 100 Plus contributed attire and prizes for special awards as well as refreshments for the tournament.
  Several teams are expected to arrive in Johor Baru early with Britain, Australia, Japan and Malaysia setting camp on Oct 17.
  All the matches will be telecast live by RTM and will also be available on live streaming.
  In terms of title distribution, India won twice (2013,2014), Malaysia (2011), Germany (2012), Britain (2015) and Australia (2016).

Dharmaraj's One Night in Bangkok... My Philosophy of Coaching

NATIONAL women's hockey coach K. Dharmaraj has been invited to give a talk to an audience made up of badminton greats.
  Yes, you read it right.
  Dharmaraj, who successfully took his 22nd rankled team into the World League Semifinals in London, has been invited to the Badminton Asia Top Coaches Forum in Bangkok on Sept 30-Oct 1.
  His topic would be "My Philosophy of Coaching".
  "It's really a honour to be invited for this forum where I will give a talk on my coaching experience. There will be top badminton coaches there and I can also learn a thing or two from them and apply it where applicable," said Dharmaraj.
  The coach was given a rag-tag team to prepare for the World League Round Two in Kuala Lumpur, in his unorthodox coaching method saw his charges beat 15th ranked Italy in the semi-finals to qualify for the World League Semifinals for the first time.
  "This is the second time I have received an offer from outside hockey to talk at a forum. The first was when our national juniors beat Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup and qualified for the Junior World Cup in India.
  "Back them I was invited by Karate to their forum but could not attend because of my commitments.
  "But I will be heading to Bangkok thanks to all the support I received from the Malaysian hockey Confederation and president Datuk Seri Subahan (Kamal).
  "All this would not have been possible if they did not have faith in me to coach the national women's team," said Dharmaraj.
  Dharmaraj is in the midst of preparing his charges for the Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Oct 28-Nov 5. The tournament is a World Cup qualifier.
  Among the badminton coaches invited to the forum are BA of Malaysia Technical Director Morten Frost and BA of Thailand chief coach Rexy Mainaky.

Five national players in tax trouble...

Oleh Saiful Affendy Sapran

KUALA LUMPUR: Kelemahan pihak pengurusan kelab yang beraksi dalam saingan Liga Hoki Malaysia (LHM), Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) dilihat bakal memberi kesan terhadap lima pemainnya yang beraksi bersama skuad hoki negara.
  Ini kerana, lima pemain itu, andai dipilih Stephen van Huizen, berkemungkinan besar akan dihalang untuk ke luar negara bagi menghadapi saingan Piala Asia di Dhaka, bulan depan, kerana gagal menjelaskan bayaran cukai pendapatan untuk 2015.
  Menurut sumber, pihak pengurusan THT iaitu Persatuan Hoki Terengganu (PHT) didakwa tidak memaklumkan lebih awal kepada setiap pemain bahawa mereka perlu membayar cukai pendapatan.
  Malah jelas sumber, di dalam kontrak pemain, tidak dinyatakan bahawa mereka perlu membayar cukai pendapatan.
  Hanya pada Januari lalu barulah pemain THT dimaklumkan mengenai perkara itu selepas pihak pengurusan memanggil semua mereka untuk mengadakan perbincangan bersama Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN).
  Lebih parah, ada pemain yang perlu membayar tuntutan cukai pendapatan sehingga mencecah kira-kira RM35,000, termasuk penalti lewat melakukan bayaran.
  "Masalah sekarang ialah apabila pihak pengurusan langsung tak maklumkan kepada pemain mengenai perkara ini lebih awal.
  "Jika setiap pemain tahu, sudah pasti mereka akan membayar cukai itu.   Sekarang macam mana nak cari duit dalam jumlah yang banyak untuk melakukan bayaran?," katanya.
  Jelas sumber itu, perkara paling membimbangkan adalah membabitkan lima pemain kebangsaan yang bakal terbang ke Dhaka bulan depan.
  "Untuk pemain lain, mungkin tidak terlalu berdepan masalah sangat. Tapi bagaimana pula pemain yang bersama skuad kebangsaan ketika ini kerana difahamkan, mereka mungkin akan dihalang untuk ke luar negara sekiranya gagal jelaskan cukai pendapatan," katanya.
  Malah sumber itu berkata, pihak persatuan juga masih gagal membayar gaji bulanan setiap pemain yang sudah tertunggak selama dua bulan.
  THT adalah antara pasukan utama pada saingan LHM dan pernah memenangi kejuaraan liga sebanyak tiga kali, termasuk tahun lalu.

Mammoth boost for hockey in Selangor...

FROM LEFT ... SHA VP J. Elangovan Chairman Competitions Committee,  QI Group’s Deputy Group Managing Director Kuna Senathirajah, SHA President, Ganesh Shanmugam and SHA Deputy President  Dr  S. Shamala,


THE QNET-TNB Selangor Hockey League kicks off on Aug 19 with a whopping 71 teams gunning for titles in various divisions.
  This will not only by the biggest number of teams taking part in the history of Selangor hockey but also, the biggest state league in Malaysia.
  Asian Direct Selling Company, QNET announced its continued
sponsorship for the third year running for the men's, women's, schoolboys' and girls' categories, to be played at three venues in the Klang Valley.
   This year’s edition will also see Tenaga Nasional Berhad, as
co-sponsors with matches being played at the Petaling Jaya City Council, Pandamaran and the KPM Pantai Stadiums.
  The league will also introduce a new division called the District Level Development (DLD) as part of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) and the Ministry of Education Sports Division development partnership program. 
  Each DLD district will be allowed to field one under-14 team in the league for free and the matches will be played in the KPM Stadium in Pantai.
  S. Kuna, QI Group’s deputy group managing director expressed
his delight on the continued partnership with Selangor HA.
  “As a keen supporter of one of our top national sport, I am also quite happy to see the league moving into full gear for the third year running.
 "This will give a good platform for hockey fans in the state to see top class action up close and in the process unearthing new talent which could be nurtured into national or world class players.”
  “Additionally, our partnership with Selangor HA clearly demonstrates our strong support for the development of hockey, where Malaysia is ranked 12th in the world, and having qualified for the World Cup in India next year,” said Kuna.
  In Division One, defending champions UiTM will looking to win their fourth consecutive title but are expected to face stiff competition.
  PJCC Tigers will be one of the teams to watch as they won the Junior Hockey League Division One title in May. 
  Also looking to challenge UiTM will be the Hamzah Machang and X-Matrix.