KUALA LUMPUR: Don’t write us off, yet.
That’s the message national hockey midfielder Mohd Sukri Abdul Mutalib has for those who doubt Malaysia’s chances of qualifying for the London Olympics.
Sukri said this in response to former Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) president Sultan Azlan Shah’s comment that the national team were not good enough to qualify for the London Olympics.
The midfielder, who has 147 caps, was in upbeat mood after helping Malaysia beat China 3-1 in the fifth and final friendly at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Crossing sticks: Malaysia’s Mohd Shahrun Nabil (left) attempts to dribble past China’s Liu Xianting during their friendly yesterday. Malaysia lost the first two friendlies 2-1 and 4-1 before bouncing back to win the next three 4-2, 2-0 and 3-1.
Malaysia scored all their three goals in yesterday’s friendly from penalty corners through Mohd Amin Rahim (eighth minute), Mohd Razie Rahim (24th) and Mohd Fitri Saari (51st).
China’s lone reply came through a Sun Luo penalty corner.
The national hockey team, who failed to qualify for the last two Olympics in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), will compete in the Olympic qualifier in Dublin, Ireland, from March 10-18.
The 26-year-old Sukri, who will be playing in his third consecutive Olympic qualifiers, said: “I have faith in my team-mates and I am confident we will rise to the occasion in the qualifier.”
Sukri was only 18 when he played in his first Olympic qualifier in Madrid in 2004.
“The national team now is better than the two I played for in the last two qualifiers in Madrid (2004) and Japan (2008),” he said.
“We have a tactically good team with skilful forwards like Tengku Ahmad (Tajuddin) and Faizal (Saari) to get the goals in the qualifier.”
The other teams in the fray in Dublin are South Korea, Ireland, Chile, Ukraine and Russia.
Only the winner of the qualifier will feature in the London Olympics.
Sukri admitted that they needed to be more clinical in their finishing, judging by the number of wasted chances in the friendlies against China.
“The defence needs to be tightened up. I believe we will be ready to give our best in Dublin and be third time lucky to qualify for the London Olympics,” he said.
THE STAR
That’s the message national hockey midfielder Mohd Sukri Abdul Mutalib has for those who doubt Malaysia’s chances of qualifying for the London Olympics.
Sukri said this in response to former Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) president Sultan Azlan Shah’s comment that the national team were not good enough to qualify for the London Olympics.
The midfielder, who has 147 caps, was in upbeat mood after helping Malaysia beat China 3-1 in the fifth and final friendly at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Crossing sticks: Malaysia’s Mohd Shahrun Nabil (left) attempts to dribble past China’s Liu Xianting during their friendly yesterday.Malaysia scored all their three goals in yesterday’s friendly from penalty corners through Mohd Amin Rahim (eighth minute), Mohd Razie Rahim (24th) and Mohd Fitri Saari (51st).
China’s lone reply came through a Sun Luo penalty corner.
The national hockey team, who failed to qualify for the last two Olympics in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), will compete in the Olympic qualifier in Dublin, Ireland, from March 10-18.
The 26-year-old Sukri, who will be playing in his third consecutive Olympic qualifiers, said: “I have faith in my team-mates and I am confident we will rise to the occasion in the qualifier.”
Sukri was only 18 when he played in his first Olympic qualifier in Madrid in 2004.
“The national team now is better than the two I played for in the last two qualifiers in Madrid (2004) and Japan (2008),” he said.
“We have a tactically good team with skilful forwards like Tengku Ahmad (Tajuddin) and Faizal (Saari) to get the goals in the qualifier.”
The other teams in the fray in Dublin are South Korea, Ireland, Chile, Ukraine and Russia.
Only the winner of the qualifier will feature in the London Olympics.
Sukri admitted that they needed to be more clinical in their finishing, judging by the number of wasted chances in the friendlies against China.
“The defence needs to be tightened up. I believe we will be ready to give our best in Dublin and be third time lucky to qualify for the London Olympics,” he said.
THE STAR
1 comment:
I have a question and I would like you to answer me, how many medals Malaysia got in the Olympics?? I am writing an article and I can't find that information, you can read my article later on host per head website
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