Asia Cup :: Our senior team to test Kuantan pitch for three days

The national hoc­key team will go to Kuantan next week to test out the pitch at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium where the Asia Cup will be held from May 9-16.

The facilities at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium including the pitch are undergoing repairs and will only be ready by the end of the week.

Team manager George Koshy said yesterday that the three-day trip would help the players to learn about the conditions there.

“It is pointless going for a long period as a lot of the players have exams here. We will make our final selection of 18 players after the trip.

“We plan to go back to Kuantan in early May and hope to play a couple of matches before the tournament starts,” said George.

The Malaysians have also scheduled a match against Pakistan on May 5 in Kuantan. They also have a request from Bangladesh for a game.

“We will play Bangladesh but the venue is not confirmed yet. They are coming early and we may play them in Kuala Lumpur before going to Kuantan,” he said.

On their preparations for the Asia Cup, Koshy said: “We are now working on the weaknesses that surfaced during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (in Ipoh earlier this month).

“Our penalty corner executions were not as potent as it should be in Ipoh. We did try out certain variations but it was mostly direct flicks or hits. We have other op­tions and will be training and using them during the Asia Cup,” said Koshy.

Malaysia are in Group A together with South Korea, Japan and Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup.

India, Pakistan, China and Bangla­desh are in Group B.