TWENTY-ONE national junior hockey players are currently under quarantine at the Kampung Pandan Sports Complex. But starting next week, they will have to compete against seven more.
The players are now under seven-day quarantine after returning from a tour of Britain to prepare for the Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India on Nov 24-Dec 5.
Malaysia, who are in Group A with Chile, South Africa and Belgium, need to finish among the top-two to advance.
"We are under quarantine at the Kampung Pandan Sports Complex hostel and will begin training again next week.
"We took 21 players for the tour and even though all of them performed exceptionally well, they will have to compete against seven others who we left behind, right until the day we name the final team," said team manager I. Vikneswaran.
The Movement Control Order in the past two years has disrupted the team's training and planning schedule.
"For the last two years, we have had to train online for most of the time while playing other teams in friendlies was also out of the question because of Covid-19.
"But after the tour, we know what to expect from the players as well as what to do next.
"The team should be finalised after the Razak Cup (Nov 10-20)," said Vikneswaran.
The national juniors played eight matches in 13 days in the tour of Britain, and some of them picked up minor injuries.
"During quarantine, some recovery work is in progress, but we can't do much as there is only one physiotherapist. They will be better looked after from next week onwards."