WHILE there is no target for the ongoing Commonwealth Games, the national men’s hockey team will strive to win gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea on Sept 19 to Oct 4.
Malaysia have never won a gold in the Asian Games, and their record is seven bronze and one silver - won in the last Games in Guangzhou where Malaysia lost 2-0 to Pakistan in the final.
Coach K. Dharmaraj plans to take 24 players to Utrecht, the Netherlands on a three-week training and playing tour in August.
“The MHC (Malaysian Hockey Confederation) has been informed about the planned tour, and is trying to finalise the details.
“We will play at least 14 matches against top clubs in Netherlands and I believe it will prepare us better for the Asian Games,” said Dharmaraj.
This will be the first time a centralised stint is held outside the country.
“The Asian Games is a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics and only the winners will gain an automatic berth. We must set gold as our target.
“The plan is to take 24 players to Netherlands where I will select the final players for South Korea.
“And Glasgow (the Commonwealth Games) is important for those who are at the fringe as it will be their last chance to prove themselves and be included in the 24 to the Netherlands.
“We have 30 players in training and 16 will play in the Commonwealth Games, and from the total number, six players face the cut on our return from Glasgow.”
The Commonwealth Games offer no International Hockey Federation ranking points, and Dharmaraj has fielded a mixed team that will find it hard to advance to the semi-finals. By Jugjet Singh