KUALA LUMPUR – A selection of 28 hockey players has been finalised, but the question remains: who will make the final cut in the lineup?
With time ticking away from the Paris Olympic Games in July, national hockey team’s head coach Arul Selvaraj openly admits the formidable challenge ahead, describing it as a “suicide mission.”
In a race against time, Arul faces the daunting task of narrowing down the roster to the top 20 players from the initial pool of 28, who are currently part of the national training camp for the Olympic qualifiers in Oman, scheduled for January.
This includes eight players chosen from the recently concluded FIH Men’s Junior World Cup, intended as backups for senior players, who are in the process of recovering from injuries.
Speaking to Scoop, Arul emphasises the importance of meticulously selecting players capable of fulfilling the long-awaited Olympic mission.
“This has got to be the biggest mission of my entire coaching career, and I can feel the pressure now.
“I’ve taken the biggest risk by introducing several new faces – not all of them may cope with our high-intensity training.
“With my senior players recovering from injuries, I must rely on a few junior players to move forward without dwelling on our injury issues.
“The squad also needs competition to ensure players understand their positions are not confirmed, and they shouldn’t take their places for granted.
“Since the day I took over this job, I’ve set a standard for the team without restricting juniors’ playing time and showing bias toward senior players.
“Under my coaching over the past three years, many young players have earned their first caps. I’m always ready to give any player a chance, but they are at risk of replacement if they don’t meet my expectations,” said Arul.
Arul also noted that seven out of his nine senior players have fully recovered from injuries and will participate in training sessions to compete for their places.
The 49-year-old coach added that senior players like Fitri Saari, returning to the turf, will be crucial in leading the team in the qualifiers.
“I’m pleased to see some of my boys making a comeback from their injuries, but they need a push in terms of their physical aerobic fitness.
“To prevent injuries from recurring, the coaching team and I are adjusting our training regimes to ensure their fitness for the qualifiers.
“The qualifiers represent our last chance for the Olympics, and I hope my players, especially the juniors, share the same goal to accomplish the target.”
Arul is expected to announce the final list of players by January 2 for the Olympic qualifiers scheduled in Oman from January 13 to 21.
Malaysia has not featured in the Olympics since Sydney in 2000.
They missed a direct Olympic qualification slot after finishing sixth at the Asian Games, succumbing to a 5-2 defeat to Pakistan.
Arul’s charges are grouped with Great Britain, Pakistan, and China in Pool A.
The Speedy Tigers are currently ranked 12th in the world rankings with 1881.87 points. – December 26, 2023