PETALING JAYA: Strong performances at the recent Razak Cup have opened the door for several players to earn national call-ups as Malaysia begin preparations for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in November.
Eight players have been selected, with four coming from runners-up Pahang — Wan Najmi Dzaib, Aiman Safwan Hisham, Nor Syakir Hafiz and Airil Abdul Razak.
Terengganu’s Darwisy Hamdan, who scored in the final to help his team lift the title, was also called up alongside Nor Syakir, who netted three goals in the tournament.
The remaining two players are Zufar Saiful Marsita and Nur Asyraf Ishak from Melaka, who finished third in this year’s edition.
All eight players, aged between 20 and 26, will join the national training camp starting Monday (Oct 27) at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
"Overall, we’re satisfied with the level of competition this year as many young players showed consistency and strong performances. This is a positive sign that more emerging talents are ready to compete at a higher level," said Sarjit.
"The players selected have shown impressive displays throughout the tournament and deserve the opportunity to experience the national training environment."
Sarjit hopes the new call-ups will maintain their fine form during training to boost their chances of making the final squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
"In centralised training, the focus will be on how well they adapt to the pace and tactical demands of international hockey. If they can display good quality and attitude, their chances of making the cut are bright," he added.
This year’s edition will feature six teams — five-time champions India, Belgium, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada and hosts Malaysia.
