PETALING JAYA: National hockey team head coach Brendon Carolan is confident Malaysia have enough firepower despite losing key drag-flicker Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan to injury ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Syafiq picked up a hairline fracture in his shin after the Speedy Tigers’ clash against Germany in their opening World Cup fixture last month, where the team lost 1-5 and eventually finished last in Belgium.
Without Syafiq, Carolan will be banking on Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin, Faizal Saari, Akhimullah Anuar Esook and Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal to deliver.
“We’ve got four good guys who can take over that spot. Azimuddin is our No. 1 flicker at the moment,” said Carolan.
“He’s young and he’s been around for a while now. Faizal has actually improved his work rate while Azrai has also been working on his penalty corner attacks.
“It’s sad to lose Syafiq though because he’s a good player.”
Malaysia are in Group B with Pakistan, China, Oman, Uzbekistan, and Thailand, while defending champions India will be the favourites in Group A.
There will be no room for error if the Speedy Tigers aim to secure an automatic ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics by clinching gold.
Malaysia finished sixth at the previous edition in Hangzhou, just making the cut to enter the 2024 Olympics qualifiers but failed to qualify, extending their absence since the 2000 Sydney Games.
Meanwhile, the women’s team coached by Indian veteran C. R. Kumar, have targeted a semi-final breakthrough after never having reached the final four in the past.
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