The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Malaysia in with a chance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 03, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Malaysia in with a chance

K. Keerthivasan

CHENNAI: “We are in with a good chance to enter the semifinals,” Sarjit Singh, the Malaysian hockey chief coach, says while relaxing at the hotel, surfing channels. The two victories over lightweights Singapore and Hong Kong has not made Sarjit complacent.

Now, he has the toughest task on his hand, taking on Japan and Pakistan back-to-back.

“A win against one of them could take us to the last four,” he says.

The defeat of Pakistan on Saturday by Japan should have given Sarjit room for hope.Finishing fourth or fifth in the Asia Cup has been a regular affair for the team. Is there anything new in the offing, one tends to ask.

“This team consists of seven junior players who played in the 2005 junior World Cup. The Malaysian Hockey Federation has given me a target of 2010 World Cup in India and the 2012 London Olympic Games,” he said.

The thought of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics doesn’t worry him too much.

“If we qualify it will be a bonus,” he says. Malaysia clinched the silver in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament after a gap of 22 years in 2007.

Sarjit was a playing member of the team, which lost to India in the final in 1985. He refuses to see the second place finish as special. “We didn’t expect to go that far. Korea didn’t send its full-fledged team and India too was a young team,” Sarjit said.

“The rest days (two days) are good. We will have enough time to work on our strategy. We will do our bit of training and watch Japan’s match against Hong Kong on Monday,” he said smiling. Malaysia takes on Japan on Tuesday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail