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Six Teams To Vie For 2013 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Glory

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Six teams have confirmed their participation in the 2013 edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, billed the longest surviving invitational international men's hockey event that first made its debut in 1983.

Tournament organising chairman Datuk Abdul Rahim Md Arif said although only six teams would feature this year, he believed the tournament would showcase the highest standard of hockey besides becoming a vital cog for the various teams' participation in a series of world events.

"The European teams are not able to play this time of the year due to their domestic calendar. However, with Ipoh (Perak) also playing host to the Asia Cup this August, we could not hold it near our normal month of May as many teams are also involved in the World League tournament.

"Still, we're grateful to those who have committed to playing and there's no doubt that the teams will be at their best to entertain hockey-loving fans," he said in the tournament website, www.azlanshahcup.com.

Preparations for the tournament had begun since last November, he said, adding that the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) together with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) would hold two courses for coaches and umpires at the Raja Ashman AHF-MHC Academy in Perak.

Malaysia under the tutelage of Irishman, Paul Revington will open its campaign against South Korea in the 22nd edition of the tournament at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium in Ipoh, from March 9 to 17.

Defending champion New Zealand, who edged Argentina 1-0 in the final last year, will open their title defence against Asian Champions Trophy winner, Pakistan, while the third game of the opening day will see Australia up against a resurgent India.

Britain and Argentina have declined the invitation to participate this year.

For the record, the national hockey squad's best achievement in the tournament was when they were runners-up in 1985, 2007 and 2009.

-- BERNAMA

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