KUALA LUMPUR: The national women’s hockey team will go on a tour of New Zealand from March 6-16 to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
The qualifiers will be held in Santiago, Chile, from April 25-May 2, Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October and the Asiad in Guangzhou in November.
They will play seven matches in New Zealand.
Malaysian Women’s Hockey Association secretary S. Shamala said yesterday that this would be the first time they would be playing against the Kiwis in a friendly Test series.
Three of the matches will be against the Kiwi senior team, two against the juniors and two against club sides.
“This is the first time that the women’s team will go on a tour of New Zealand to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers and the Asiad. We hope to be better prepared for the challenges this year,” she said.
The MWHA have set the team a lofty target for the Asian Games – a place in the semi-finals.
“Although a spot in the semi-final is a steep target as India, South Korea, Japan and China are ranked higher than us, I believe our team are in good shape and will impress in the Asian Games,” she said.
The national side recently won all five matches – 1-0, 4-1, 1-0, 3-2 and 2-1 – against the visiting Pyeongtaek CT Korean Club Team.
The last two matches saw the Korean club side flying in six national players.
The women’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers will be named after the New Zealand tour.
STAR
The qualifiers will be held in Santiago, Chile, from April 25-May 2, Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October and the Asiad in Guangzhou in November.
They will play seven matches in New Zealand.
Malaysian Women’s Hockey Association secretary S. Shamala said yesterday that this would be the first time they would be playing against the Kiwis in a friendly Test series.
Three of the matches will be against the Kiwi senior team, two against the juniors and two against club sides.
“This is the first time that the women’s team will go on a tour of New Zealand to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers and the Asiad. We hope to be better prepared for the challenges this year,” she said.
The MWHA have set the team a lofty target for the Asian Games – a place in the semi-finals.
“Although a spot in the semi-final is a steep target as India, South Korea, Japan and China are ranked higher than us, I believe our team are in good shape and will impress in the Asian Games,” she said.
The national side recently won all five matches – 1-0, 4-1, 1-0, 3-2 and 2-1 – against the visiting Pyeongtaek CT Korean Club Team.
The last two matches saw the Korean club side flying in six national players.
The women’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers will be named after the New Zealand tour.
STAR
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