PETALING JAYA: It’ll be time to beef up in May for Speedy Tigers.
As part of the national hockey team’s build-up to the Asian Games, four weeks in May will be dedicated towards strength and conditioning training in the team’s quest to win gold in Hangzhou in September.
National coach A. Arulselvaraj said it would be the team’s most crucial period of preparation.
“The strength and conditioning training will start after the fasting month and the four weeks in May will be crucial for the players,” said Arulselvaraj.
“We will be focusing fully on the strength and conditioning before we head in June and or July for a playing tour in Europe.
“The schedule is going to be tight after the Asian Games where we will play in the Nations Cup in November and the Asian Champions Trophy in December.”
Malaysia may be involved in one of the two FIH Olympic Games qualifiers early next year but the Speedy Tigers may not have to worry about the competition if they win the gold at the Asian Games to confirm their ticket to Paris 2024.
“Asian Games is going to be tough but nothing is impossible,” added Arulselvaraj.
The Olympic qualifiers will involve 16 of the world’s top 22 teams where three teams each from the two qualifiers will make it to Paris.
France have qualified as the hosts while five other teams, the continental winners, will book their tickets.
The Asian Games is Malaysia’s best shot to secure a direct ticket despite the presence of India and South Korea fighting for the single slot.
World champions Germany, Britain, Spain or even Belgium may play in the Olympic qualifiers if they fail to win the European Cup which will be held in Moenchengladbach, Germany, from Aug 18-27.
