30-06-2025
No target for Malaysia in Madurai and Chennai
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has not set any target for the Junior World Cup (JWC) in Madurai and Chennai, India, from Nov 29-Dec 10.
Malaysia are drawn in Group E with the Netherlands, England and Austria in the 24-team JWC.
MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said that is because there is no long term training programme to prepare the current national junior team for this.
"More than 10 years ago we had a four-year training programme and also had money to prepare a good team which finished fourth in the JWC under coach K. Dharmaraj (in New Delhi in 2013).
But for the 2027 JWC, the MHC plans to have a well prepared team. "We need to plan long term for the juniors for the 2027 JWC. Nor Saiful Zaini will be in charge of the Under-18 team for 2027.
"We are going to keep the players for the next two years and we are also going to look for more talent for the 2027 JWC."
Meanwhile, Nor Saiful said his team have a semi-finals target in the boys' Under-18 Asia Cup in Dazhou, China. Malaysia are drawn in Group B with Japan,
Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Kazakhstan while Group A comprises Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.
