Malaysian skipper, Ikmar positive for Asiad
The hockey team of Malaysia is trying to move on and forget the humiliating 8th position out of ten teams in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi. There is a lot of pressure from critics and hockey lovers on the team regarding the Asian Games, which will kick off on Thursday, November 12, 2010, at Guangzhou, in China.
The Malaysian hockey team was defeated in four matches out of a total of five in the Delhi Games. They won only one match (against Scotland) and lost the four matches against Pakistan, India, Canada and Australia.
The Captain of the Malaysian Hockey team, Mohammad Madzli Ikmar talking to the media persons said that the morale of the team is high and players have improved a lot in the recent training camps. He further said that the team would surely deliver in the Asian Games to wash the stigma of the Commonwealth Games.
Skipper, Ikmar, who has achieved 192 International caps, was of the view that the team would surely perform well. He is participating in the fourth Asian Games of his career and seems to be confident to make it memorable this time.
“It will be a rising step for us to acquire a gold medal in the Asiad and obtain a direct ticket to the 2012 London Olympics,” said Madzli, who reached China the other day along with his teammates. He further said that they would have to avoid silly mistakes like the ones they had made in the last tournament.
The Malaysian squad finished at a disappointing 6th position in the last Asian Games held in Doha while it won bronze medal in the 2002 Asiad.
The aim to win a gold medal in the Asiad seems impossible for the team as even the bronze will be difficult without the two legends, Kelvinder Singh and Jiwa Mohan.
Mohan, the top defender, is also not participating due to family issues and is replaced with the youngster, Azreeen Rizal Nasir. Nasir was chosen from 2013 Project squad.
The mysterious decision of the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) to drop Kelvinder is beyond making any sense. He is considered one of the top mid-fielders in the world. Kelvinder was declared completely fit after his knee injury before the Commonwealth Games but he was not included in the squad for Delhi Games. The team will definitely feel his absence at the Asiad.
Malaysia is placed in Pool-A along with Singapore, defending champion South Korea, China and Oman while the Group-B is comprised of Pakistan, India, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Japan
Deputy President of Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF), Nur Azmi Ahmed, said that the Malaysian team is aiming for a medal of any color at the Asiad. He further said that the Asian Games is the most important tournament in the region as the winner will get direct access to the 2012 London Olympics.
Azmi said, "Under the current situation, it will be difficult to acquire a gold medal in the Asiad. however the federation will be happy if the team return with any medal”.
Commenting on the omission of Kelvinder, Azmi said that the squad would have been stronger with him, however he could not interfere in the selection procedures.
The 16th Asian Games are starting from November 12 in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. Considering the fact that the Malaysian squad will have to face the defending champion, South Korea, and former silver medalists, China, in first round, and with India and the former hockey super power, Pakistan, also aiming for the gold, the prospects for the team look extremely poor.
The 16 member squad of Malaysia for Asian Games is comprised of Mohd. Madzil Ikmar- captain, S. Kumar and Roslan Jamaluddin- goalkeepers, Amin Raheem, Muhammad Razie Abd Rahim, Azreen Rizal Nasir, Baljeet Singh- defenders, Muhammad Shukri Abd Mutlib, Muhammad Marhan Mohd, Jalil Shahrun Nabil Abdullah, Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor- midfielder while Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abd Jalil, Hafifihafiz Hanafi, Azlan Misron, Faizal Saari and Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin as attackers.
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