Indoor Hockey : Malaysia A open campaign with two rousing wins

Malaysia A got chalked up two convincing wins on the opening day of the inaugural men’s Indoor Asia Cup hockey tournament at the Indera Mulia Stadium in Ipoh yesterday.

Malaysia A outplayed Malaysia B 6-2 in the opening match before thrashing Thailand 7-1.

Jivan Mohan (13th minute), Redzuan Ponirin (14th), Mohd Rodhanizam Mat Radzi (21st), S. Kuhan (24th), S. Shanker (37th) and Mohd Redza Maadun (39th) were on target for Malaysia A in the morning match. Mohd Fikri Bassar (18th) and Mohd Hafiz Zakaria (40th) replied for Malaysia B.

Against Thailand, former national skipper Kuhan scored five goals in the seventh, 11th, 13th, 16th and 23rd minutes while Jiwa Mohan scored a brace in the 20th and 34th minutes.

Indee Jutipond replied for Thailand in the 39th minute.

Favourites Iran, who won the gold medal in the second Indoor Games in Macau last year, also had two big wins — thrashing Thailand 8-1 and humiliating Uzbekistan 11-1.

Malaysia A team manager Kenneth Pereira said his boys played better against Thailand.

“We will face a stern test against favourites Iran tomorrow (today). We last played them in Macau and drew 3-3,” he said. “I hope my boys will rise to the occasion this time.”

RESULTS

Malaysia A 6 Malaysia B 2, Iran 8 Thailand 1, Uzbekistan 6 Singapore 4, Iran 11 Uzbekistan 1, Malaysia A 7 Thailand 1, Malaysia B 3 Singapore 2.

Today's matches

Thailand vs Malaysia B (8am), Singapore vs Iran (9.15am), Uzbekistan vs Malaysia A (10.30am), Singapore vs Thailand (5pm), Iran vs Malaysia A (6.15pm), Malaysia B vs Uzbekistan (7.30pm).