KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are drawn with Pakistan, China and Austria for the men’s Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Egypt from Feb 28 to March 8.
Eight teams will feature in the World Cup Qualifier and England, South Korea, United States and host Egypt are drawn in the other group.
Another eight teams will feature in another World Cup Qualifier in Chile from Feb 28 to March 8 and a total of seven teams will qualify for the World Cup among the 16 teams in the two World Cup Qualifiers.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Subahan Kamal said in a press conference today: “Based on the teams featuring in the World Cup Qualifier in Egypt, I believe we should not have any reasons why we should not to qualify for the World Cup.
“We are the highest ranked team in our group and second highest ranked team in the tournament in Egypt.
“We should finish top three in Egypt to qualify for the 2026 World Cup (hosted by Netherlands and Belgium from Aug 14-30),” said Subahan.
Malaysia are ranked 13 while Pakistan are ranked 14. Austria and China are ranked 21 and 23 respectively.
World No. 8 England is the highest ranked team while S. Korea are ranked No. 16, Egypt No. 17 and the US are No. 25.
“National coach Sarjit Singh has also given his assurance that they will qualify for the World Cup.
“Although there were some weaknesses of the national team in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (in Ipoh last month) but Sarjit said they would overcome it for the Qualifier in Egypt,” said Subahan.
The national team are currently playing in the SEA Games in Bangkok and they will start training on Jan 5.
Subahan said that Malaysia will play a Four Nation tournament comprising India, S. Korea and New Zealand in Auckland at the end of January in preparation for the World Cup Qualifier in Egypt.
The Malaysian team were criticized in the SAS Cup for winning one win, a draw and four defeats. one match, one draw and four defeats. edged Canada (3-2), drew 2-2 with New Zealand before losing four matches in the row – 4-3 against India, 9-1 against Belgium, 4-3 against South Korea 4-3 and 6-1 against New Zealand.
Sarjit’s men scored 13 goals but conceded a whopping 27 goals in six matches to finish fourth among six teams. This is one of the worst performances of the national team in the SAS Cup.
Meanwhile, the National Development Hockey Programme (NDHP) Under-18 boys and girls teams will leave for Perth, Australia tomorrow to play four matches against combined teams of Under-21 Western Australia and Northern Territory matches on Dec 13, 14, 16 and 17.
Subahan said that these two NDHP Under-18 teams are feeder teams for the 2027 Junior World Cup.
Ends
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
