OTHERS MIGHT AS WELL WITHDRAW

New Delhi: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre expects India to be a force to reckon with in the upcoming Hero Junior World Cup but said it won't be easy for the hosts to win the tournament to be held here from December 6-15.

Negre said the event is the perfect platform for talented young hockey players to make a name for themselves. "Of course, if India were to win the tournament the impact would be huge, but with so many great hockey nations competing it is really difficult to predict who will lift the trophy," Negre said of the tournament to be held at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium.

Speaking on the topic of India's promising young brigade making the transition from junior to senior level, he said: "India has always been strong at the junior level. However, it is not always easy to make the transition from junior to senior hockey.

"This is not something which is unique to India but applies to every hockey playing nation in the world. That said, the India men's team is very talented and looks to have a fine crop of young talent coming through the ranks. I think it's really important that India gets behind the team during the Junior World Cup as fan support can really make a big difference. The future looks bright for Indian hockey," he said in a statement.

The fact that the event is being hosted in India is an added bonus for Negre as he is extremely fond of the country.

"I am really looking forward to visiting the country again. I love everything about coming to India. I am always made to feel extremely welcome here. Hockey events in India are always very special, and the atmosphere when the home team are in action is something that has to be seen to be believed. It is a real privilege to experience it," he said.

JOEL, HAFIZ AND NOR AQMAL MAKE THE CUT

JOEL, HAFIZ AND NOR AQMAL MAKE THE CUT ^Featured

Thursday, 21 November 2013 15:32

It is truly a day that the Van Huizen family will cherish. For Lawrence van Huizen was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia Hall of Fame.

And hours earlier in the day, Joel van Huizen made the cut to be included into the final 18 of the national team for the Junior World Cup that will be held in New Delhi from Dec 6-15.

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TEAMS MAY WITHDRAW FROM U14 TOURNAMENT

The National Under 14 Championships that will be held from November 18 till 27 could well be hit by several last minute withdrawals.

A total of 14 boys teams and 12 girls teams had confirmed their participated in the tournament hosted by the Terengganu Hockey Association.

However some states are having second thoughts of participation following the inability of the hosts to provide accommodate and internal transport for participating teams.

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THREE IN A ROW FOR SELANGOR

Selangor won the National Indoor Under 16 title for the third successive year when they edged Sabah 2-1 in the final played at the the National Sports Council Indoor Arena in Bukit Jalil.

 

Selangor had won the two previous editions and the final was a repeat of last years encounter where Selangor prevailed.

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START WORKING TOGETHER

It may only be the SEA Games, but the level of politics within the Malaysian Hockey Confederation reached its peak as two key officials created a furoe over a small issue.

 

The fact that Senior Vice President Dato Azmi Ahmad and Vice President Manjit Majid Abdullah do not see eye to eye is an open secret.

 

And those in the hockey fraternity are all too aware of the spat between these two, as they guard their territories with vengence.

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ALL EYES ON FELDA

The Malaysian Hockey League Premier Division is not expected to start until October next year.

 

But the hockey circles is abuzz with news of player movements, the same as what is happening in the football M-League. And all this excitement boils down to one thing, that there will be a new club making its entry into the MHL.

 

Although nothing has been confirmed yet,  it is understood that Felda will be venturing into hockey in a big way. And the who’s who of Malaysian hockey is being associated with the club.

 

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AN HISTORIC FEAT BY MALAYSIAN WOMEN SQUA

The malaysian women team achieved the unthinkable, by winning the bronze medal at the Asian Champions Trophy in Kakamigahar in Japan.

The unsung Malaysia side defeated China 3-1 in the bronze medal playoff. And the bronze at Asian level comes as a welcome surprise as not many, including this website, had given them a ghost of a chance to win a medal at the ACT. Champions Trophy.

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JUNIORS GET OFF TO A WINNING START

The National Juniors defeated Egypt 2-0 in the first of the four match series between the to teams ahead of next month's Junior World Cup in New Delhi.

Goals by Shahril saabah in the 18th minute and Dangerous Lee in the 34th minute gave the Malaysians a comfortable win as they played without key players such as Fitri Saari, Firhan ashaari, Izad Hakimi, Faiz Helmi, Azri Hassan, Mohd Syamim Yusof, Rashid Baharom, Meor Azuan, Shazril Irwan Nazli and Kavin Karthik.

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INDISCIPLINE COSTS MALAYSIA DEAR

On a day where India outfoxed Malaysia in the boardroom of the FIH headquarters in Lausanne, the Indian hockey team rubbed salt into the wounds of Malaysian hockey by edging the Malaysian team 4-3 at the Asian champions Trophy in Kakamigahara, Japan.

The defeat put paid any chance Malaysian had of making the final, and had it not been the heroics of keeper S. Kumar, Malaysia could well have ended up playing the 5/6th classification against Oman on Sunday.

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FAITHAL TO ASSUME CHAIRMANSHIP

Secretary pof the Malaysian hockey Confederation Umpires Committee Faithal Hassan looks likely to assume the role of Chairman of the committee on Saturday.

In a specially called meeting opf the Umpires Committee following the resignation opf Lt Col (R) B. Muthukumar, an interim Chairman appointment is one of the agendas of the meeting.

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FEELING SORRY FOR MHC

A prophecy has been disturbed by the International Hockey Federation in naming India as the host of the 2018 World Cup.

A look at history will reveal that Malaysia always play host after the World Cup is hosted by Holland.

It happened in 1975 when Kuala Lumpur played host for the first time after  Amstelveen had played host in 1973.

And in 2002 it was Kuala Lumpur again in 2002 after Utrecht had hosted the 1998 event.

With The Hague hosting the 2014 edition, all indications were that Malaysia were the perfect hosts for an expanded field of 16 countries for the World Cup.

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HIT AT THE DEATH

Conceding last minute goals is something that the Malaysian hockey team just cannot overcome.

For they were defeated by Pakistan 1-0 at the Asian Champions Trophy, the goal coming 30 seconds from time via Ahmad Shahrzad.

Conceding these killer goals is not new to the team as only last Saturday they lost 1-0 to Japan, the goal coming just two seconds from time.

In the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Malaysia lost the final 3-2 to Australia with only four seconds on the clock.

And going back to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Malaysia were held to a 2-2 draw, by Pakistan with Sohail Abbas netting the equalizer with 30 seconds remaining.

As a matter of fact, Sultan Azlan Shah has time and again reminded the hockey teams to focus on the opening and closing five minutes of each half.

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DOWN BUT NOT OUT

The Malaysian women team succumbed to their second defeat in the Asian Champions Trophy, this time going down 5-1 to India at Kakamigahara.

They had lost 3-0 to Japan in their opening match last Saturday and it was a far better performance against India as Malaysia took the lead in the 15^th minute through skipper Nadia Abdul Rahman via a penalty corner.

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