KUALA LUMPUR: National coach Paul Revington was still in a shock over the tragic death of national player Chua Boon Huat yesterday.
“I am shocked by the news that Chua (Boon Huat) passed away in the early hours of this morning (Thursday). It is not only a great loss to our Malaysian team but to the world in general.
“I have known Chua for over 13 years as I watched him play in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, competed against one another as a player and coach at the 2001 Junior World Cup in Hobart, the 2003 Champions Challenge I in Johannesburg, the 2003 Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad, the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the 2009 Champions Challenge II in Dublin and then more recently recalling him to the Malaysian team in 2012 to play in the Champions Challenge I in Argentina.
“I was so excited at the opportunity to coach one of my international heroes when I came to Malaysia,” said Revington.
But the 33-year-old Boon Huat died in a car accident yesterday morning.
Revington said that he had no qualms recalling the player although he was dropped from the national team three years ago.
“He was the first name on my team list when selecting any Malaysian team as I knew how much the player looked up to Chua and quietly respected his immense aura and experience at international level.
“Everyone felt safe with Chua in their team. He was the most capped Malaysian hockey international to date – a great achievement.
“Before every Test match for Malaysia I was so thankful that we had Chua in our team. He was a true warrior and competitor.”
Revington also pointed put that Chua loved all his team-mates and loved spending time with them.
“You could see the passion and drive in his eyes and you could hear it in the tone of his voice on and off the pitch. He had a dream to get Malaysian hockey back into the World Cup and the Rio Olympics.”
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