Hockey: Nuraini aiming for more goals in double mission

KUALA LUMPUR: Forward Nuraini Abdul Rashid has a dual mission at the World League Round One hockey championship.

She wants to help Malaysia emerge champions as well as winning the top scorer award.

The Perak-born penalty corner specialist has scored five goals – four from penalty corners and a field attempt – in two matches. Nuraini and Kazakhstan’s Vera Domashneva are now joint top scorers.

Malaysia were in immaculate form in Group A, whipping Sri Lanka (14-0) and hosts Singapore (10-0). They will face Thailand in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the Sengkang Sports and Recreation Centre in Singapore.

The 24-year-old Nuraini, however, is not happy with her scoring rate.

“I believe I can score more goals. I just need to stay focused and make full use of the chances I get,” said Nuraini.

“We want to score as many goals as possible against Thailand. 

“We have not conceded a single goal in two matches and we want to maintain it the semi-finals,” said Nuraini.

Kazakhstan, who won Group B after wins over Thailand (2-0), Hong Kong (2-0) and Myanmar (2-0), will start as favourite in the other semi-final against Singapore.

The World League Round One is the qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.