KUALA LUMPUR – Nur Rahul Hrsikesa Thaitchana Muruthi is delighted that his sacrifices have finally paid off, having been selected for the national hockey team for the upcoming Nations Cup.
The 26-year-old Penangite was chosen by head coach Sarjit Singh for the 20-player squad after a successful campaign in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) with NurInsafi.
Rahul scored 18 goals for the KL-based club, finishing third in the scoring charts behind Terengganu’s Faizal Saari (23 goals) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal (32 goals).
The forward then underwent an assessment, playing in two friendlies against New Zealand and South Korea prior to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
However, he did not make the final 18-player list for the invitational tournament, where Malaysia finished fourth.
Speaking to Scoop, Rahul expressed confidence in his abilities and hopes to make his long-awaited debut under Sarjit in the Nations Cup.
However, he also acknowledged that his game intelligence might be a hindrance due to his lack of international game exposure.
“I’m happy that I’m finally getting my chance to play for the national team after years of sacrifices and struggles. I worked really hard to reach this level, and I’m glad to see progress.
“More than that, I’m happy to make my parents proud, and I want to inspire more Penangites to take up hockey, as there are many talented players from my state.
“The Nations Cup is going to be interesting for me. I have speed and strength, and I’m confident that it will impress coach Sarjit enough to give me a debut in the tournament.
“I have learned a lot from him since he came on board in March; he has instilled a warrior mentality in me.
“But I still believe I’m lacking game intelligence due to my limited exposure to international matches, and this is something that may hinder me in the tournament,” said Rahul when contacted.
At the same time, Rahul believes he can overcome his game intelligence issues by using his extensive experience in the MHL, where he has faced some of the best international players.
“I have been playing in the MHL for years, and for me, it’s the best hockey league in the country. I started my professional journey in the league, and it has shaped me into who I am today.
“My experience playing against some of the international players in the league will definitely help me overcome my issues in the Nations Cup this year.
“Now that I’m in the squad, my focus is to fight for my place and become one of the main attackers on the national team in the years to come,” Rahul added.
The Nations Cup, scheduled to kick off in Gniezno, Poland, from May 31 to June 9, will feature nine teams participating in two pools – Austria, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, France, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Poland.
The Speedy Tigers are grouped with Canada, France, and Pakistan in Pool B.
Malaysia will take on Pakistan in their first game on May 31. – May 29, 2024