SEPANG – The Youth and Sports Ministry has requested an additional RM3.9 million allocation for five-a-side (5s) hockey training and development programmes over the next five years.
Minister Hannah Yeoh said the allocation would also be used for preparations for the national squad to compete in the Hockey5s World Cup in 2028.
“The ministry, together with the National Sports Council, has sent the application to the MoF (Finance Ministry) and is awaiting approval. This is for both the men’s and women’s hockey 5s teams, and they will be provided with everything they need to face the next World Cup tournament.
“The cabinet is also very happy with their achievements, and the prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has also congratulated the team. I am confident that the government will provide support.”
Hannah said this to reporters after welcoming the national men’s hockey 5s team – who emerged as runners-up in the Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman – at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport this morning.
Malaysia emerged as the runner-up in the inaugural edition of the Hockey 5s World Cup on Wednesday night (early Thursday morning in Malaysia) after losing 2-5 to the European giants, the Netherlands, in the final held at the Oman hockey stadium.
Under the guidance of coach Wallace Tan, the team began their Group D campaign with a 3-3 draw against the host, Oman, before securing two victories against the United States (3-2) and Fiji (8-3) to confirm their spot in the quarter-finals.
The national squad, who were runners-up in Group D, then defeated Group C champions Trinidad and Tobago 5-4 in the quarter-finals before confirming their progress to the finals when they beat Poland 4-3 in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Hannah said the men’s 5s hockey squad would receive an incentive of RM80,000 under the National Sports Incentive Scheme for their excellent performance.
In fact, the minister said the Sports Ministry would also reimburse the money spent by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation for the World Cup campaign. – February 2, 2024