Defending champions Malaysia will be riding on home ground advantage while India aim to up the tempo as the 8th Men’s Junior Asia Cup gets underway on Saturday at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium here.
Three-time champions Pakistan, whose performance in the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) just a month earlier has been nothing to shout about after a disappointing sixth finish, are not about to let their feathers ruffled once again as at stake is qualification to the 2016 Junior World Cup in India.
They have arrived here with a far more polished side than the one that featured in SOJC and open their campaign against Bangladesh.
The top four teams here advance to the Junior World Cup. India, as host, is automatic qualifier.
Malaysia, India, Japan and China are drawn in Group A while Korea, Pakistan, Oman and Bangladesh are in Group B.
However, hot on the heels of the Malaysians, Indians and Pakistanis are the Koreans, Japanese, Omanis, Chinese and Bangladeshis who are equally hungry for success in Asia’s prestigious men’s junior tournament.
Except for Japan, Korea and China who have at one time or another made a podium finish in the last seven editions of the tournament, “There is added pressure on us as defending champions and we cannot deny that but we will weather the storm as I believe we have the pedigree to make it to the semi-finals,” said Malaysian head coach Arul Selvaraj.
“We have shortlisted the final 18 players and everyone is committed to putting up an outstanding performance as much as we respect our opponents,” added Arul whose team goes into action on tomorrow against China in Group A.
While the Malaysians are oozing with confidence, China’s coach Song Yi, speaking through an interpreter, is coy about his team’s chances and would rather let the players do the talking on the pitch.
“Generally, we have had just one month of training and playing Malaysia is a big game for us for a start. I will be more than happy if my players can put up a decent performance,” said Yi at a pre-tournament press conference.
“It has been two days since we arrived here and the team is getting acclimatised to the local conditions here. All I can say is we will take one match at a time and see how it goes against Malaysia first.”
India, champions in 200 and 2008 but finished third at the last Asia Junior Cup in the historical Malaysian city of Malacca three years ago are determined to get back on track which would serve as a giant morale booster to their World Cup aspiration.
India’s team manager, James Romeo, said they have made two changes to the side that lost 4-3 to Great Britain via penalty shoot-out in the final of the SOJC and look forward to an improved performance in Kuantan, beginning with against Japan tomorrow.
“Our confidence level is good and we will go from match to match,” said Romeo who side defeated the Koreans 4-1 in a friendly match on Thursday.
The Koreans, however, are feeling the heat having to play most of their matches before sunset but was quick to blame it on the winter conditions back home.
“We train for 20 days during summer and 20 days in winter. It’s very cold back home now and I guess this is one major factor affecting the players here,” said team manager Yoo Moon Ki who had also managed the senior side to the Argentina Hockey World League semi-finals last year.
“Our real test will be against Oman and it will be good if we can come away with a win in our opening match. Off course every team aims to reach the semi-finals and our target is to top the group,” he added.
But smack in the middle of their plans is Pakistan who has learned a bitter lesson in recent time and prove a major stumbling block.
As Pakistan’s head coach, Tahir Zaman, puts it: “We have two targets. The first is to regain the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan and secondly to qualify for the Junior World Cup.”