Hockey: Malaysian Tigers Could Outperform The Brits

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Hockey Confederation (KHM) president, Subahan Kamal, believes the national hockey team – ranked 11th in the world – is capable of beating the England team – ranked 7th – at a 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifier in London from Nov 2 - 3. He said to take for example the Asia Cup defending champion, India, who surprised reigning World and European champions, Belgium, three times during the Belgium Tour recently. It is for this reason he believes the Malaysian Tigers under coach Roelant Oltmans will be able to pull off a surprise on England’s home turf. “For instance, India’s players, who we beat once, have the same build because they are from Asia. More crucially for me, the players must stay focussed. “I think Roelant and his line-up of coaches have given their best, and we can see that the players are ready to train hard,” said Subahan after a high tea thrown by the King, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Queen, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah for the national team at Istana Negara (National Palace), Friday. Malaysia’s last Olympics outing was in Sydney in 2000. -- BERNAMA