MHC Optimistic Of Winning Men's And Women's Hockey Gold Medals In Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are optimistic that the blend of senior and junior players in the National squad will be the right formula to defend the gold medal at the Myanmar SEA Games which kicks off next month.

MHC senior vice president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said the SEA Games squad under coach Tai Beng Hai comprise 25 players, including seven young players.

"The list of players will be announced early next month when the National squad returns from a playing tour in South Korea," he said when contacted by Bernama, Thursday.

Beng Hai was reported to have said the presence of young players would provide them good exposure while the seniors will be the pillar of strength in the squad.

Apart from defending the men's gold medal in the SEA Games, Nur Azmi said the MHC also has high expectations for the women's squad to win the gold medal in Myanmar.

"The women's squad has shown overall strength and improved performance. We hope both teams can contribute gold medals," he said.

For the record, the men's and women's hockey squads won the gold medal in the 2007 edition of the Games held in Korat, Thailand.

However, when Laos hosted the SEA Games in 2009, hockey was not included, and two years later when Indonesia hosted the 2011 SEA Games, hockey was again omitted from the programme.

-- BERNAMA