KUALA LUMPUR: Seven injured hockey players are fighting against time to recover for a playing tour of Auckland, New Zealand, from Dec 8-18.
The seven are defenders Syafiq Hassan, Najib Abu Hassan, Ramadan Rosli and Najmi Farizal Jazlan, midfielder Azrai Aizad Abdul Kamal and forwards Fitri Saari and Shahril Saabah.
Ramadan and Azrai got injured during last month's Hangzhou Asian Games and Najib during the recent Razak Cup.
Farizal got injured during training while Fitri, Shahril and Syafiq have been nursing injuries since September.
The Speedy Tigers will play four matches against New Zealand and two against South Korea in Auckland in preparation for the Olympic Qualifier in Muscat, Oman, from Jan 15-21
Malaysia are in Group A with China, Great Britain and Pakistan while Group B consists of Germany, Canada, Chile and New Zealand.
Team manager Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi said: "The seven players are undergoing rehabilitation and they also have a training programme given to them.
"We have to wait and see until the end of the month to know how many of them will be fit enough to go for the playing tour.
"It will be good for us to play against New Zealand and South Korea as the two teams will also feature in the Olympic Qualifier."
