Out of contention: Malaysian players look dejected after the 4-4 draw with China in the group stage which saw them failing to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
PETALING JAYA: The national hockey team had the chance to make history at the Asian Games by winning Malaysia’s first hockey gold and confirming their 2024 Paris Olympics spot but instead, they had undone a good build-up to end 2023 on a low.
The Speedy Tigers, after a fine performance in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Chennai a month before the Asiad, had given renewed hopes that A. Arulselvaraj’s players were on the right track to break their hoodoo at the continental championships.
The Tigers were convincing at the ACT where they finished runners-up for the first time, even taking a 3-1 lead against eventual champions India before going down 3-4 in the final.
However, they lost to traditional rivals South Korea 3-4 and drew 4-4 with hosts China and did not make the semi-finals in the Asiad.
Malaysia, who started as the gold medal prospects, had to settle for a sixth place after Pakistan inflicted a 2-5 defeat and it was the Tigers’ worst outing at the Asiad since Doha 2006 where they also occupied the same spot.
The fact that they had beaten the Koreans twice, 1-0 in the same group stage and 6-2 in the semi-finals of the ACT and also beating China 5-1 at the same tournament has left the players with disbelief.
A well prepared India won the Asiad gold and secured their Olympics spot without any trouble while Malaysia were left to ponder their misfortune in Hangzhou.
The excuse that the team peaked too soon had been thrown out of the window as it was evident that the players came undone as they were unable to cope with the pressure of meeting their target at the Asiad.
Injuries had remained a constant issue throughout the year and the absence of players like Fitri Saari, Syafiq Hassan and Zulpidaus Mizun may have affected the team’s performance in Hangzhou.
The team have a final chance for redemption when they play at the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in Muscat, Oman from Jan 15-21 where top three teams will qualify for the 2024 Paris.
Malaysia must exorcist the ghosts of Hangzhou as they have to overcome China and Pakistan in the group stage to reach the semi-finals.
Another Group A rivals Great Britain will be too strong but victories over the two Asian nations should give them the chance to fight for the top three spots in Oman.
Arulselvaraj has put his job on the line in this mission but he will be relieved to have the entire squad fit for the qualifiers.
Finishing runners-up at the ACT and achieving the team’s highest world ranking at No. 9 are the consolations for the Speedy Tigers this year.
The below par performance of the national junior squad at the Junior World Cup in Bukit Jalil earlier this month will be another major concern for the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) after the hosts finished 12th out of 16 teams.
Malaysia had finished eighth in Bhubaneswar, India two years ago but the current team were out of depth and failed to match the top nations in the competition.
Their struggle at the Junior World Cup was somehow expected as the Young Tigers were assembled 13 months before the Junior World Cup and majority of the players hardly have the experience of playing international matches.
The result was a reminder that becoming hosts will not necessarily guarantee success and MHC’s concentration should be on having two-four year plan to prepare the junior squad.
Malaysian hockey needs a boost and the Speedy Tigers can begin initiating the revival by booking their place in the Olympics via Oman qualifiers.
