Field Hockey -

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Malaysia on history bid
By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: After the superb performances in the group matches, Malaysia will go all out to claim another prized scalp when they come up against two-time champions South Korea in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup hockey tournament in Chennai today.

For the first time in the history of the tournament, Malaysia go into the semi-finals having topped a group with an unbeaten record of three wins and a draw.

National coach Sarjit Singh said that they are leaving no stones unturned in the quest to create another history in the tournament.

揥e want to qualify for the final for the very first time. We have qualified for the semi-finals a few times but failed to win a medal in the tournament.

揃ut this time we have a reliable team with players who are capable of creating upsets,

dexa

Skuad hoki negara gagal ke final

CHENNAI, India

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Malaysia fail to enter final after going down to South Korea
By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's hopes of playing in their first ever final of the Asia Cup hockey tournament were dashed when they went down 1-2 to two-time champions South Korea in the semi-finals at the Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai yesterday.

Malaysia have not only failed to reach the final in the last seven editions of the tournament but have also not won a medal in the tournament since its inception in 1982.

Yesterday's loss was a bitter pill to swallow as the defeat came about because of two silly defensive errors. Two careless back passes in each half sank the Malaysians who had until yesterday been going great guns in the tournament.

The first came in the ninth minute when defender Megat Azrafiq Megat Termizi's push back was intercepted by Oh Dae-keun who gleefully steered the ball past goalkeeper S. Kumar.

Two minutes into the second-half Malaysia equalised. Forward Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin's cross was well deflected into goal by Azlon Misron.

After the equaliser, Malaysia played defensively and were contented to let the Koreans, last year's Doha Asian Games champion, dictate proceedings.

Despite earning seven penalty corners the Koreans failed to score.

Then came the second error of the match. Seven minutes from time, forward Ismail Abu sent another listless backpass which Yoon Sung-hoon latched on to score the winning goal.

Despite trailing 1-2, Malaysia earned two penalty corners and had a clutch of chances in the last five minutes but failed to score.  

However, goalkeeper Kumar, who made some good saves, was awarded the Man-of-the-Match.

National coach Sarjit Singh said that they were let down by the two silly mistakes.

揥e had the chance to qualify for the final after creating many chances but blew it. I am disappointed with the errors as we played well,'' said Sarjit.

Sarjit said that he was confident that they would register a win over the Koreans after defeating them 1-0 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in May.

揃ut we lost because the players are making the same all old mistakes. And if we don't rectify them then there's no way we are going to improve on our game or ranking,'' said an annoyed Sarjit.

Sarjit, the former captain of the Malaysian team, said that they would now go all out to win the third placing match against Japan today to end their medal drought in the tournament.

Malaysia had beaten Japan 2-0 in their Group A match last week.

揗alaysia have never been on the podium in the tournament and hopefully we will get our first medal in Chennai,'' said Sarjit.

Meanwhile, defending champions India defeated Japan 4-1 in the other semi-final match.

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Hockey: A bronze for Malaysia
By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia defeated Japan 5-3 to win their first-ever bronze medal in the Asia Cup hockey tournament at the Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai yesterday.

At the last Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 2003, Malaysia finished fifth.  

Malaysia, ranked 16th in the world, had beaten the 11th ranked Japan 2-0 in a group match last week.

Although Malaysia conceded a second-minute goal, they showed tremendous fighting spirit to hit back with the equaliser in the fourth minute before going on to take a 4-1 lead in the first-half.

  
[table=314][tr][td] [/td][/tr][tr][td]Main man: Malaysia抯 man-of-the-match Chua Boon Huat tussling with Tsubouchi Kazuhiro of Japan during their match yesterday. Malaysia won 5-3.

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Aussies, Kiwis fight for Olympic spot

BUDERIM (Australia): Australia and New Zealand's men's hockey teams will fight it out for Oceania's only Beijing Olympics berth at a qualifying tournament here.

Minnows Papua New Guinea, who have no world ranking, will also play but are not expected to challenge defending Olympic champions Australia (ranked second in the world) or the tough New Zealand team (ninth).

New Zealand coach Shane McLeod was confident his team could match Australia but said it would be tough.

揑t's going to be the greatest test they have faced since I have been working with the team in the last year,

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Malaysia keen to host Champions Trophy

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Hockey Federation (IHF) have decided to move the men抯 Champions Trophy tournament away from Lahore, Pakistan, due to safety reasons.

And the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are keen to host the tournament, scheduled for Dec 1-9.

Olympic champions Australia and Spain, who have qualified for the tournament, informed the FIH that they would not be able to participate due to security reasons. Germany, South Korea and Holland also did not confirm their entry.

Reserve countries England and Japan also declined the invitation. With six of the best eight hockey teams not participating in the Samsung Champions Trophy, one of the most important hockey tournaments in the world, the FIH had no option but to change the venue for the 2007 Champions Trophy tournament.

FIH will decide on the new venue in the next few days.

MHC secretary Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema said that they informed FIH on Sept 6 of their intention to host the tournament.

Cheema said that the Malaysian team, who won their first-ever bronze medal in the Asia Cup in Chennai on Sunday, have no competitions left this year.

揝o it will really benefit the national team to play in the Champions Trophy as they need to play quality matches to prepare for next year抯 Olympic qualifie,

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Mixed results for our juniors in playing tour Down Under
By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian junior hockey team have won once and lost twice in their five-match playing tour against the Australian juniors in Queensland, Australia.  

Malaysia took the lead in the first match but went down 1-4 on Wednesday.  

However, they bounced back to win the next match 3-2 on Thursday.

In the third match yesterday, the national juniors were outplayed 5-0 because most of the players are fasting.

National junior coach Tai Beng Hai said in a telephone interview from Queensland yesterday that out of the 20 players, only forward Harwinder Singh is not fasting.

揟he first two days of fasting took its toll on the players as we lost out in every department.  

揥e are in Australia without six 20-year-old players because we want to expose the Under-19 players, who are preparing for the 2009 Junior World Cup,'' said Beng Hai, who is assisted by Gurmit Singh.

Beng Hai added that they would be playing their next two matches in Buderim, where the Oceania Cup will be held.

Hosts Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are involved in the Oceania Cup, with the champions earning an automatic berth to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Australia, the Olympic champions, are favourites to win the tournament and New Zealand are most likely to finish runners-up and will go through the Olympic qualifier.

Malaysia might be drawn in the same group with the Kiwis in the qualifier.

The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have sent national coach Sarjit Singh, who guided Malaysia to their first ever bronze medal in the Asia Cup in Chennai on Sunday, to Australia to watch the Oceania Cup with former national coach Paul Lissek.

Beng Hai said after the Australian playing tour they would go to South Korea later this month for more friendly matches.

揥e are using the two playing tours to Australia and Korea to prepare for the Singapore International Invitational meet next month,'' said Beng Hai.

The other teams in that tournament are hosts Singapore, Australia, India, Pakistan and Taiwan.

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Aussies hammer our juniors

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian national junior hockey team ended a five-match series with their Australian counterparts in Queensland with four defeats.

They lost the opening match 1-4 before bouncing back to win 3-2. But it was downhill after that for the Malaysians

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Coach Sarjit cool over having Germany in Olympic qualifiers
By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian men抯 hockey team face a mammoth task in qualifying for next year抯 Beijing Olympics, having been drawn with world champions Germany in the men抯 qualifying tournament in Kakamigahara, Japan, from April 5-13 next year.

The other teams in the fray are Japan, the Czech Republic, Poland and Switzerland. Only the champions will qualify for Beijing.

National coach Sarjit Singh, however, is unperturbed by world number two Germany抯 presence.

揋ermany were favourites to beat Belgium in the third playoff in the European Championships last month to qualify for the Olympics. But Belgium surprised Germany to qualify for the Olympics.

揙ur mission in Japan is to qualify for the final and we will go all out to achieve it. In the final anything can happen,

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Champions Trophy host job will go to either Malaysia or India

KUALA LUMPUR: The Champions Trophy hockey tournament in December will be hosted by either Malaysia or India following a FIH (International Hockey Federation) decision not to consider Spain as one of the candidates.

The tournament was supposed to be played in Lahore from Dec 1-9 but the FIH withdrew it from Pakistan because of security reasons, which led to the withdrawal of Olympic champions Australia and Asian Games winners South Korea.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) secretary, Dr. S. S. Cheema, said yesterday that he received notice on the matter in an e-mail from the FIH yesterday.

揟hey (FIH) are in the midst of finalising a few things with sponsors Samsung before making a final decision. The FIH also said that it would be an eight-nation tournament,'' he said.

Australia and South Korea will be back in the fray with the world champions Germany, Holland, Spain, and Pakistan. The FIH have chosen England to make up the field of eight teams together with the hosts.

揥e are eager to host the tournament because the national team need quality matches to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers next year. And the tournament offers seven matches,

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Malaysia hos Trofi Juara-juara
KUALA LUMPUR

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Hockey: Malaysia win Champions Trophy bid
By : Jugjet Singh

MALAYSIA will host the Champions Trophy at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Nov 29-Dec 9.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) yesterday accepted Malaysia's bid over India after the tournament was yanked from Pakistan due to unstable conditions there.

And instead of the normal six, FIH have named eight teams for the tournament including the hosts.

Malaysia, ranked 15th in the world, will battle Australia (world No 1), Germany (No 2), Netherlands (No 3), Spain (No 4), South Korea (No 5), Pakistan (No 6) and Great Britain (No 9).

揑 received an e-mail from the FIH informing that we have won the bid to host the Champions Trophy. It is indeed a great honour for Malaysia, who will be hosting it for the second time since its inception in 1978 in Lahore (Pakistan),

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Focus is on fitness ahead of Champions Trophy
By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: The national hockey team will focus on their fitness level to put up a strong challenge in the Champions Trophy tournament at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil from Nov 29 to Dec 9.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tan Sri Anwar Mohd Nor said they would give top priority to the tournament, which is one of the top four tournaments in the world.

揥e thanked FIH (International Hockey Federation) for giving us the host job as the national team need quality matches to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers next year,

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National players not allowed to play in Razak Cup
By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: The national players will not be released for the Razak Cup tournament which will be held at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil from Oct 26 to Nov 4.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tan Sri Anwar Mohd Nor, said they have decided not to release the national players for the tournament because their fitness level would drop.

揥e have learnt from past experience. The 30 players in the training squad would concentrate on preparing for the Champions Trophy which will be held from Nov 29 to Dec 9 in Kuala Lumpur.

揙ur priority is the Champions Trophy which is part of the preparation for next year抯 Olympic qualifier,

dexa

Australia hantar pasukan terkuat -- Hoki Trofi Juara-Juara

MELBOURNE

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Aussies to assemble strong squad for Champions Trophy

MELBOURNE: Australia will be at full strength for the men's Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur at the end of next month in preparation of their Olympic title defence in Beijing next year.

The tournament will see two teams more, Britain and Malaysia, joining the original list of Australia, Germany, South Korea, Holland, Pakistan and Spain.

But instead of using the tournament from Nov 29 to Dec 9 to tinker with his line-up or blood the fringe players before Beijing, coach Barry Dancer said that he would throw everything he had at the Champions Trophy.

Australia will welcome back fullback Matthew Wells and midfielder Robert Hammond (both from hamstring injury) and goalkeeper Daniel McPherson (calf), who missed the Oceania Olympic qualifying round last month.

揥e'll consider the individual needs of the players, where they are in their programme but we are looking at going with a near-full-strength if not full-strength team to Malaysia,

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Hockey: Depleted squad for Singapore
By : Jugjet Singh

MALAYSIA will field a diluted side for the Singapore Under-19 International six-nation on Oct 17-21.

Coach Tai Beng Hai said yesterday, he will not have five form five boys, while the majority of players who were called up as replacements did not show up.

"The team is basically the same one which played in Australia recently, minus five form five boys who are preparing for their SPM examinations.

"I called up eight players scouted during the JHL (Junior Hockey League), but only three showed up for trials leaving me with little choice to select from," said Beng Hai.

The Singapore International, into its fourth edition, will see the hosts, Malaysia and Australia in Group A, with India, Pakistan and Hong Kong in Group B.

Training has started for the tournament, but due to the tournament's close proximity to Hari Raya, the final preparation has hit a snag.

"The tournament is just after Hari Raya, and so we will miss a few days of crucial training. But it would be a good experience, especially with Australia in our group," said Beng Hai.

[ Last edited by  speaky06 at 9-10-2007 04:36 PM ]

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Puasa tidak jejas latihan
Oleh Bazly Azmi


PEMAIN pertahanan skuad hoki kebangsaan, Megat Azrafiq Megat Termizi masih mampu tersenyum sekalipun aktiviti sepanjang Ramadan dipenuhi dengan jadual latihan.

Pemain berusia 23 tahun itu giat mempersiapkan diri menjelang dua misi utama akhir tahun ini iaitu Kejohanan Piala Juara-Juara 2007, 29 November ini, selain Sukan Sea Korat, Thailand.

"Jika terpilih beraksi ke Piala Juara-Juara, ia akan menjadi pengalaman pertama saya menentang tujuh pasukan terbaik dunia kerana belum pernah merasai pentas Sukan Olimpik," katanya.

Justeru, peluang terbaik itu akan digunakan sebaik mungkin untuk meyakinkan jurulatih negara, Sarjit Singh, memilihnya membarisi skuad kebangsaan melalui kem latihan di Stadium Hoki Nasional Bukit Jalil bermula 18 September lalu.

"Saya difahamkan hanya 18 pemain terbaik dipilih dan ini bermakna peluang kini terbuka kepada 30 pelatih untuk merebut tempat.

"Jadi, tidak timbul masalah untuk berlatih sepanjang Ramadan kerana tanggungjawab negara lebih utama," kata pemain kelahiran Johor Bahru itu.

Pemain yang mula menyertai skuad senior pada 2002 itu menambah, latihan pada Ramadan biasanya diadakan pada waktu malam kecuali Jumaat untuk memberi peluang kepada pemain yang sudah berumah tangga berbuka bersama keluarga masing-masing.

"Latihan berlangsung selama dua jam bermula 9.30 malam setiap hari kecuali Jumaat yang bermula 5 petang. Biasanya latihan dalam Ramadan lebih 'keras' kerana pemain diberi pelepasan pada siang hari selain menjadi masa sesuai untuk meningkatkan tahap kecergasan.

"Atas faktor itu, berbuka di padang bukan perkara baru bagi pemain bujang seperti saya kerana sudah menjadi rutin sejak lima tahun lalu.

"Tapi kadang-kala, teringat juga kari ikan dan sambal ikan bilis masakan ibu (Siti Fazilah Sheikh Husin). Jika 'mengidam', saya akan berkunjung ke bazar Ramadan Sri Petaling untuk membeli juadah berbuka bersama rakan pelatih.

"Biasanya, nasi beriani dan air tebu akan menjadi menu utama tapi jika tidak ke situ, saya akan berbuka di kafe Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) kerana juadahnya lebih seimbang," kata bekas pemain kelab Telekom Pahang itu.

'Jeneral' pertahanan Ernst & Young (E&Y) itu menjadi

pilihan utama Sarjit untuk menguatkan benteng ketika Malaysia meraih dua kejayaan muncul naib juara Piala Sultan Azlan Shah dan pingat gangsa Piala Asia di Chennai, India.

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RM1 juta untuk trofi juara
Oleh Hamdan Saaid

PERUNTUKAN mencecah hampir RM1 juta diperlukan Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM) sebagai persediaan menghadapi Trofi Juara-Juara yang akan dianjurkan negara buat kali kedua dari 29 November hingga 9 Disember ini.

Bagi menampung penyertaan lapan pasukan - Australia, Jerman, Korea Selatan, Belanda, Pakistan, Sepanyol, Britain dan tuan rumah Malaysia - badan induk hoki negara itu memerlukan lebih kurang RM900,000 dari segi pembiayaan perbelanjaan logistik - penginapan dan pengangkutan.

Presiden PHM Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor berkata pihaknya sudah mendapat peruntukan awal sebanyak 66,000 Euro (kira-kira RM300,000) daripada Persekutuan Hoki Antarabangsa (FIH) yang menganugerahkan Malaysia sebagai tuan rumah menggantikan Pakistan pada 27 September lalu.

"Kami sudah menerima peruntukan daripada FIH. Kini PHM terpaksa mencari penaja lain untuk melengkapkan bajet bagi menganjurkan Trofi Juara-Juara.

"Secara dasarnya, ketika menganjurkan Piala Sultan Azlan Shah membabitkan lapan pasukan kami membelanjakan RM800,000 bagi tujuan penganjuran. Tetapi kerana peningkatan kos, kami kena tambah 10 peratus lagi daripada jumlah itu," katanya selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Majlis PHM di ibu negara semalam.

Beliau berkata, hak penyiaran televisyen adalah milik FIH tetapi PHM dibenarkan mengadakan rundingan dengan stesen televisyen tempatan.

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Pahang to host Razak Cup tournament after all

JOHOR BARU: This year抯 Razak Cup hockey tournament will be played in Kuantan after all and it will be held on a grand scale in conjunction with the Sultan of Pahang抯 birthday celebrations.

MHF competitions committee chairman Majid Manjit Abdullah said the 10-day tournament would be played on Polygrass pitches at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium and the Complex Bandar Indera Mahkota from Oct 26-Nov 4.

The tournament was earlier scheduled to be played at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil after MHF secretary Hashim Yusof submitted a report on the poor pitch conditions in Kuantan during his inspection trip three weeks ago. And at their last council meeting, the MHF decided that the tournament be played in KL although Perak, Negri Sembilan and Malacca volunteered to play hosts.

But things changed when the MHF sent two of their most experienced officials