Hockey Olympic Qualifier: Malaysia robbed of a place in the final

Robbed!

That’s how the Malaysian national hockey team felt after their 3-3 draw with Japan in the Olympic qualifiers at the Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Japan, yesterday.

The Malaysians were understandably distraught over the last-minute goal awarded to the Japanese by umpire Murray Grime of Australia as it denied Sarjit Singh’s men a place in the final against Germany today.



Midfielder Jiwa Mohan said although it was disappointing to go out this way, felt that they only had themselves to blame for it.

“Denied, robbed. I just don’t know what to say. It’s all just a little bit hard to take. Two minutes to go and everything blew up on our faces,” he said.

“We, the players, realise that we are also to be blamed for the draw. We had victory in our grasp and we all played well enough to get the job done.

“The (Japanese) goal came as a shock as it should not have been allowed. We all agree on that but then you have to realise that the umpire’s decision is final. That was why we were pushing for him to consult the third umpire.

“We worked so hard and to end a match in such controversial fashion is like getting hit below the belt.

“I do not want to blame the umpire as he did his job the way he saw fit. I feel there must be some way to overcome this kind of problems from cropping up again. It is up to the people higher up to take up the matter.



“We players have to learn to take the good with the bad (decisions) and play the game in the right spirit. I know we could have done better and I’m proud that the players today (yesterday) showed they have what it takes to play under pressure.

“We were clearly the better side and yet we won’t be in the final.”

The Malaysians, who needed a win yesterday, were leading 3-2 in the first-half before being hit by a sucker punch in the 68th minute through Kenichi Katayama’s controversial goal.

Jiwa said goalkeeper S. Kumar was speechless and could not believe that the umpire had blown for a goal.

“All the players near the incident were angry. It is to be expected as the goal came at a crucial time. Mistakes happen and umpires are humans well. So we have to take it in the chin and get on with it,” Jiwa said.

“We must recover to play against Poland and make sure we finish third, at least.”