The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Windfall for Kumar and Faisal in India
- Malaysia keep final hopes alive with hard-fought draw against Pakistan
- Teenager Rafiq set to join the elite squad
| Windfall for Kumar and Faisal in India Posted: 23 Dec 2012 05:32 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian hockey players are in for a windfall next year after managing to gain places in two teams in the Hockey India League, which starts on Jan 17. Goalkeeper S. Kumar has been snapped up by Uttar Pradesh Wizards while the Mumbai Magicians have signed up forward Faisal Saari for the one-month league. Kumar is set to get US$15,000 (about RM45,878) and Faisal US$26,000 (RM79,521) for a month's work. This is the first official professional league in India. Three Malaysians featured in last year's unsanctioned meet and Jiwa Mohan was the only one who was officially released by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to play in the league. Two others from Sapura – Robert Alcantara and Mohd Rodhanizam Mat Radzi – did not get the MHC's blessings and were later suspended for six months. This time, Kumar, Faisal, Razie Rahim, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Azlan Misron were sought by the teams in the league. But only Kumar and Faisal made it to the auction rounds. Kumar was "auctioned" at US$15,000, which is the base price for foreign players while Faizal got US$26,000 (RM79,521). The five-team league will also see players from Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Argentina and Spain in the fray. The other teams are Delhi Waveriders, Punjab Warriors and Ranchi Rhinos. |
| Malaysia keep final hopes alive with hard-fought draw against Pakistan Posted: 23 Dec 2012 03:26 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia held Pakistan to a 3-3 draw to stay in the hunt for a place in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Doha. It was the first drawn game of the tournament and both teams will have to win their next two games to make the final on Sunday. Malaysia and Pakistan have seven points from three matches. Pakistan, the runners-up last year, play India in a crucial match today while Malaysia meet China. Malaysia had won their two earlier matches with identical scores of 4-1 against Japan and Oman while Pakistan had seen off China 5-2 and Oman 8-3. India, who thrashed Oman 11-0 earlier yesterday, lead the standings with nine points from three matches. The top two teams will meet in the final while the next two will clash for the third placing. Defending champions India were again at their best against Oman, getting their goals through S.V. Sunil (3rd and 44th minutes), Dharamvir Singh (8th and 56th), V.R. Raghunath (30th and 38th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (33rd and 43rd), Akashdeep Singh (53rd), Harbir Singh (65th) and Danish Mujtaba (67th). The defending champions had earlier beaten China (4-0) and Japan (3-1). In the first match of the day, China beat Japan 4-2. |
| Teenager Rafiq set to join the elite squad Posted: 23 Dec 2012 05:27 PM PST PETALING JAYA: Mohd Rafiq Ismail's impressive run under the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) special squad programme may have earned him a place in the elite squad next year. The Kuala Lumpur youngster is one of the biggest successes to come out of the special squad since he joined the programme two years ago and already has two Milo International Junior All-Stars titles – boys' Open this year and the Open Masters in 2011 – to his name. The SMK Bukit Indah student also finished second at this year's Penang Pesta International Bowling Championships (men's Open) and last year's Milo International Junior All-Stars (boys' Open) as well as top six finishes this year – the Taiwan International Open (fifth in the men's Open) and the KL International Open (sixth in the men's Open). And he is only 15 years old! His performance has so impressed national coach Holloway Cheah that the latter plans to recommend the youngster to be included in the national elite squad when MTBC review the special squad's programme next month. "Rafiq is a natural. He's very relaxed and doesn't let the pressure get to him. He's fearless. I see a lot of Shalin (Zulkifli) in him," said Holloway. "Shalin was 14 when she won her first major title and Rafiq is only 15. He's the most successful bowler from the programme. I'll definitely recommend him for the elite squad ... but the final decision rests with MTBC." Holloway was also happy with the performances of both the elite and special squads at the recent Milo championships. "I'm quite happy ... it was a very good showing by both squads, considering they faced strong international talents as well as the Korean national team," said Holloway. |
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