KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are overwhelmed with the national women’s team performance in the World League Round One, which ended in Singapore on Thursday.
And they have set a target for the national team to finish among the top six for next month’s Commonwealth Games.
In Singapore, Malaysia won the tournament by winning all their four matches by netting a whopping 37 goals and not conceding any goals.
Forward Nuraini Abdul Rashid was the top scorer with eight goals.
By winning the tournament, Malaysia also qualified for the World League Second Round, which is scheduled to be played in New Delhi in December.
The World League Second Round is the qualifying meet for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
MHC senior vice-president S. Shamala said that they are impressed with the team’s performance in Singapore.
“Our players are in high spirits after winning the tournament and qualifying for the World League Second Round.
“We have set a target for the national team to finish among the top six for next month’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games,” said Shamala.
A total of 10 teams will feature in the Commonwealth Games and Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against defending champions Australia on July 24.
Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa are drawn in Group B.
Shamala said that although the 18 players performed well in Singapore, they should not take their places for granted for the Commonwealth Games.
“We have 25 players in the training squad and all of them have a fighting chance to be named for the Games. We will select the best possible team as we will be facing top contenders like Australia and England,” said Shamala.
Malaysia’s best ever finish at the Commonwealth Games was a sixth placing in the 2006 Melbourne Games.
At the last Games in New Delhi four years ago, Malaysia finished a disappointing last in the 10-team competition.
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