Hockey World Cup: Proud Arul calls on players to battle on to finish tournament on a high

Focus

By SINAR DAILY REPORTER

23 Jan 2023 12:24pm

Malaysia's Firhan Ashari tries to stop the ball ahead of a Spanish player in the FIH World Cup crossover playoff match in Bhubaneswar, India yesterday. Spain beat Malaysia 4-3 in a shootout after the match was tied 2-2 in regulation time, to advance to the quarterfinals against Australia.

BHUBANESWAR - A defeat at the very end, particularly with victory snatched out of their hands several times in the crossover playoff match against Spain yesterday must have been a bitter pill to swallow for Malaysia, particularly with their hopes of making the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 shattered.

But head coach Arul Selvaraj wants his players to not be overcome by disappointment and focus on the remainder of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup here.

Malaysia, having already moved up to ninth in the world rankings prior to the match, had put on a fighting display that showed they were now on the right track towards regaining their status among the top teams in the world.

Arul said the team had already done the nation proud by performing beyond expectations, particularly with a never-say-die attitude that saw them come from behind to win their preliminary round matches against Chile and New Zealand, as well as in the crossover playoff match against Spain.

Yesterday Malaysia lost 4-3 in a shootout that ended a dramatic match that was tied 2-2 at full-time. The defeat meant Spain progressed to the quarterfinals against Australia, while Malaysia extend their 20-year wait to make the World Cup quarterfinals, which they last achieved in 2002.

"Of course, there is disappointment because we lost in a shootout. But we can be proud of the performance as the players gave everything, especially when we were down 2-1, we came back to draw level," said Arul.

"In terms of performances, in the second, third and fourth matches here the players displayed immense fighting spirit. In the second and third games (against Chile and New Zealand) we were behind and the players fought back to turn the matches into wins and against Spain, we fought back to draw level."

Arul said the team needs to get over the disappointment of the defeat to Spain quickly and focus on the ninth to 12th classification match against South Africa on Thursday.

"We need to get over this disappointment right away. Tomorrow is a new day and we must look towards the ninth to 12th classification matches. We will face South Africa on Thursday and we need to finish this tournament on a high, in ninth position."