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Tournament named after hockey legend Mirnawan

KUALA LUMPUR: The inaugural National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP) International Invitational has been named the Mirnawan Cup in honour of Malaysia's triple Olympian.

The international meet on Nov 26-Dec 2 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil is is for boys Under-17 and girls Under-14.

Malaysia's rivals will be India, Japan and Singapore. They will play in the Under-17 category while India and Singapore will compete in the Under-14.

Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, who is now in South Africa with the national players for the Nations Cup, said: "There are many former national players who have made the nation proud over the years and so, I am humbled that the NHDP, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) and National Sports Council (NSC) have chosen me.

"I hope this tournament will benefit Malaysian juniors as they play tougher matches with peers from other countries," said Mirnawan in a recorded message.

Malaysia will be represented by NHDP players from premier sports schools, as well as the Perak boys who won the recent MSS tournament.

"NHDP will host its first international invitational with teams from Japan, India and Singapore as well as 10 NHDP teams and MSS Perak champions competing.

"We have about 4,000 boys and girls under the NHDP programme nationwide, and in the long run, I believe Malaysia will have a bigger pool to select from, for national duty," said NSC director general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi.

"Initially we were a little afraid that the women's international invitees will find it difficult to come, but Singapore and India gave us a surprise.

"Both the India teams are from Odisha, where the men's World Cup will be played in January," said MHC development chairman Datuk S. Shamala.

BOYS Under-17: Group A: Sports Odisha, SSTMI, SSM Sabah, MSS Perak; Group B: Japan, BJSS, NHDP Tigers, Singapore.

GIRLS Under-14: Group A: Sports Odisha, NHDP Central, NHDP South, SSTMI; Group B: NHDP East, NHDP North, Singapore.

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