Malaysia Awaits Poland's Participation In Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tourney

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, as the host for the 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament, are hoping that Poland will be able to confirm their participation in the tournament before next Friday. So far, only five teams have confirmed participation in the tournament, namely Malaysia, India, South Korea, Canada and Japan, while South Africa has to withdraw due to financial constraints. “We have invited Poland to replace South Africa but we have yet to receive any reply from them. We will wait until Friday next week. If Poland cannot join the tournament, then we will proceed with only five teams contesting.” “Maybe the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will retain the original format for the tournament or change to a new format. On the tournament schedule, it is up to the organiser,” Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) deputy president Datuk S. Shamala told reporters after the presentation of the mock cheque of sponsorship totalling RM2.063 million for the tournament here Sunday. The event was graced by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah. The tournament will be held at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium in Ipoh, Perak, from March 23 to 30. For the record, Malaysia have yet to win the tournament since its inception in 1983. The best performance for the national team was emerging as the runner up for five times in 1985, 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2014. The 28th edition of the tournament is expected to be a warm-up session for the national squad in view of the 2019 FIH Hockey Series Finals scheduled for April 26 to May 4 in Kuala Lumpur. The winner and runner up of the FIH Hockey Series Finals will qualify to the 2020 Olympics Qualifying Tournament. -- BERNAMA