KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are optimistic the ongoing Britain tour is the perfect tonic for the national seniors preparing for the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Dec 14-22.
The ACT offers ranking points, and since Malaysia have broken into the world top-10 for the first time since 2004, the seniors need to get results against India, South Korea, Japan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to keep moving upwards.
"I would like to congratulate the senior team who are now No 10 in the world after winning Test matches in their Britain 10-match stint.
"The team had beaten Wales twice (4-3 and 3-1) in Test matches, and moved one rung up to 10th in the world. This is good news for Malaysian hockey fans, as well as the MHC, as the last time we were in this position was in 2004," said MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.
Subahan said he is confident that the team will not disappoint at the ACT.
"The ACT provides world ranking points, and I am confident that the seniors will be ready to put up a good fight in Bangladesh, and add to their world ranking points.
"MHC would like to thank National Sports Council director general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail and all our sponsors, espceially, Tenaga Nasional, for their support and help," said Subahan.
