The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- London, Doha go head-to-head for 2017 worlds
- Malaysia must beat India in last match to set up showdown with Australia
- South Korea believe they can still reach the final
| London, Doha go head-to-head for 2017 worlds Posted: 10 Nov 2011 06:47 PM PST MONACO (Reuters): London or Doha will be named 2017 world athletics championships hosts by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday. The 26 IAAF Council members who will vote must decide between London's campaign as the "athletes choice" and the promise of sell-out crowds in the Olympic Stadium, or take the track and field global showpiece to an untapped and undeveloped athletics market. Neither city has hosted the biennial championships since they began in 1983. A decision is expected around 1600. London's bid team have expressed quiet confidence that, after previous failed attempts to stage the championships and confusion over the future of the Olympic stadium, the time is right to fulfil legacy promises made after securing the 2012 Olympic Games. Doha's bid is part of oil-rich Qatar's campaign to promote itself as a hub for international sport. The desert nation will host the 2022 soccer World Cup and is also bidding for the 2020 Olympic Games. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Malaysia must beat India in last match to set up showdown with Australia Posted: 10 Nov 2011 06:43 PM PST JOHOR BARU: Malaysia face a win or bust situation when they take on India in their last preliminary round match in the Sultan of Johor Cup junior hockey tournament at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium today. The Project 2013 team have so far come through with flying colours in their last three matches. They drew 1-1 with New Zealand and beat South Korea (4-2) and Pakistan (2-1) after losing their opening match 1-2 to Australia. Today, the stakes are high as the winners will most likely earn a place in the final against Australia, who have already confirmed their ticket. But it will not be easy against a resurgent India who have returned to their winning ways. Malaysia are playing with much more consistently, a factor which has been missing in our hockey teams. Even in the 1-2 defeat to Australia the Malaysians played well. And they have shown attacking flair as well. Their commitment is high and they have the ability to string together winning passes . But holding on to the ball too long and the delay in getting out of defence still persist. In the forward line, the players seem to take their time finding the right angle to strike and this has caused them to miss several sure goals. Players like Amir Farid, Nor Izzat Sumantri, Mohamed Ramadhan, Mohamed Hafiz Zainol and Fariq Saadon have shown good skills. Skipper Mohamed Noor Faeez and his defenders Kaven Karthik, Fitri Saari and Mohamed Faiz Helmy are solid and confident. Goalkeepers Mohamed Hazrul Faiz and Mohmed Hafizuddin Othman are also reliable – for once. But all the good work will go down the drain if they fumble against India. The boys will have to channel all their energy into the match to conjure up a win which will put them in the final. Malaysia's coach K. Dharmaraj said that it all boils down to this one match. "We have always taken it one match at a time and planned our way through. India are good and on an upswing. We have to keep playing the way we did earlier and make sure we stay in attack mode. There are times when we need to be a little defensive and rely on counter attacks. "We will do that if necessary. But we want to win this match and are not looking for a draw or any other result. "The earlier match between Korea and New Zealand will have a bearing on our game but then again it will not matter if we beat India," said Dharmaraj. India's Malak Singh who has scored five goals thus far is the player to watch. He is nippy in front of goal and can earn penalty corners easily which Harpreet Singh or Ramandeep Singh can convert. Their weak points are their goalkeepers as they tend to lose focus easily. If the Malaysians can maintain pressure on them, the task of winning will be easier. Dharmaraj's game plan is crucial and if the team can play as they did against the Australians or the Koreans then they can be assured of playing in tomorrow's final. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| South Korea believe they can still reach the final Posted: 10 Nov 2011 02:17 PM PST JOHOR BARU: South Korea and New Zealand head into their final preliminary round match with different targets to fulfil. For the Koreans a place in the final is at stake while for the Kiwis victory will ensure they stay in the playoff for third place. The Koreans are in a tussle for a final berth with India and Malaysia who meet in a later match. Malaysia are second in the standings with seven points while Korea and India have six points each with the latter third on goal difference. Australia, who have 12 points, have already qualified for the final. They play winless Pakistan. South Korean coach Song Seung-tae (pic) said it is a must win situation and they will go all out to get it. "We have a chance to make the final and we aim to do it. Our match is before the Malaysia-India game and that is no advantage for us. "We must secure a win at all costs and then wait for the outcome of the Malaysia-India match. "It is entirely out of our hands once we have completed our fixtures," he said. The Koreans not only need the three points but also as many goals as possible. Goal difference may play a major part in deciding the other finalists. But the Kiwis are not about to lie down and accept defeat. Their coach Grant Edwards said that they want to avoid defeat. "We need to beat Korea so that we will remain in the play off for third place. It is not going to be easy, as they need the three points too. "Our goal scoring has been a problem although we have had ample chances. We must do better. I must say that our defence has held up well and the penalty corner defence is the best in the tournament," he said. The Kiwis have played four matches and scored just four goals. Korea on the other hand have a good scoring rate with 13 goals in four matches. But their defence is also porous having conceded 16 in as many matches. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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