Malaysia to utilise the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for Olympic Qualifiers’ preparations
In order to give the Malaysian hockey team an edge in terms of preparations for the Olympic Qualifiers, the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) scheduled the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in February 2012.
A council meeting of the MHF held with its President, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, in the chair, fixed the dates of the tournament ahead of the Olympic Qualifiers. The seven-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be played from February 2 to 12, a month
before the Olympic qualifying event.
The Malaysia-based Sultan Azlan Shah Cup started back in 1983 as a biyearly tournament. However, it emerged as an annual event after 1998.
Five out of a total of seven teams have confirmed their availability, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and the hosts, Malaysia. Germany refused to participate in the tournament while Holland did not take a final decision in this regard yet.
According to the MHF, Great Britain and Argentina will be possible replacements if Holland refuses to play the tournament.
While speaking to the media, Sultan Ahmad Shah informed that the dates of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup were finalised on the request of the national line-up.
He clarified, “They (players) made the request and as such we respect their decision. They know the dates involved and they must be confident that it will not affect their performance in the qualifiers in Dublin”.
It is vital to mention here that India will not contest the tournament for the first time as it will contest the Olympic Qualifiers in February.
Additionally, South Korea, a regular team of the tournament, will also not play in the invitational Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
The MHF President observed, “There is no way India can come and we will not be able to invite Korea as they will be our rivals. We hope to tie up the other teams soon. We are not able to have the tournament in January as the national team will play a five-match
Test series with China”.
Meanwhile, the council will also summon an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on December 17, 2011, to transfer the powers and control to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
Following the directives of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), Malaysia decided to form a single unit to run the women’s and the men’s hockey in the country.
Without any doubts, the tournament will help the Malaysian team in preparations for the Olympic Qualifiers.
Tags: