Skip to main content

Hockey: Rajan has pick of three penalty corner specialists

Junior World Cup coach K. Rajan
Junior World Cup coach K. Rajan

K. RAJAN, Malaysia's Junior World Cup coach, considers himself very lucky as he has three penalty corner flickers who are challenging each other to the limit.


AHMAD KAZAMIRUL
AHMAD KAZAMIRUL
Top penalty corner flicker Nor Hafiq Ghaffar is recovering after an appendix operation.
Top penalty corner flicker Nor Hafiq Ghaffar is recovering after an appendix operation.
And with top flicker Nor Hafiq Ghaffar still in the midst of recovering after an appendix operation, he has been overtaken by Ahmad Kazamirul.

Malaysia and Singapore will co-host the Junior World Cup on June 7-21 with each country hosting 10 teams.

"Not many teams in the world can boast of having three penalty corner flickers, and so I consider myself lucky as I have many options to play.

"All three have been doing well, and pushing themselves to the limit, and this healthy competition has made them sharper," said Rajan.
The third flicker is Faizal Saari.

"With Faizal also looking dangerous now, I will at least have two of them on the pitch at any one time, and the player who takes the first flick knows he has to get it right if not he will be replaced for the second penalty corner."

On fitness, Rajan is also pleased with the progress of his charges.

"When we played nine friendlies in Europe, after the third match, my players looked like they had just returned from a war zone," Rajan said.

"But now, they can last a fast-paced match, and still keep their form for a string of matches."

Meanwhile, Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary Hashim Yusof said yesterday that all the matches at Taman Daya Stadium will be free of charge, including the final.

"Malaysia will not be selling tickets for the tournament, but Singapore will at their stadium.

"The people of Johor should take this opportunity to come and watch some top quality matches for free," said Hashim.

Both the pitches in Johor are ready for the tournament, and Spain, who are in Malaysia's group, arrived a few days ago and have already started training at the venue.

Besides Spain, Malaysia have South Korea, England and the United States for company, and Rajan is aiming for a top-two finish in the group to qualify for the quarter-finals.

NST

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...
2 comments
Read more

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...
1 comment
Read more

Chance to catch Messi and company

  FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and vice president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin with FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Pic by Osman Adnan LIONEL Messi's presence alone could sell half the tickets despite reigning world club champions FC Barcelona's date with a Malaysian XI at the National Stadium on Aug 10 falling on the third day of Hari Raya. The much anticipated visit of the four-time European champions comes with expectations from fans who want a full star-studded line-up. "The summer will be a busy period with a lot of uncertainty with players moving away and coming in. "But yes, our plans are to bring our full team here," said FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Rossich was speaking at the announcement of the friendly match, which is part of the three-match FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013, which sees the giants also visiting China and Thailand. Also pre...
2 comments
Read more