Malaysia’s senior hockey team coach Sarjit Singh sees improvement with the new-look Speedy Tigers stepping on the pedal for the upcoming Asian Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy (ACT) 2024.
The 2024 edition will be held from September 8-18 in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia, China.
The Speedy Tigers, who lost to India 3-4 in the 2023 final in Chennai and hope to do better this time, will begin their challenge in the 2024 edition with an opening clash against arch rivals Pakistan on Sept 8.
This follows matches against China (Sept 9), defending champion India (Sept 11), Japan (Sept 12) and South Korea (Sept 14). The semi-finals will be held on Sept 16 and the final Sept 17.
“The first game is always difficult in any tournament. Anything can happen. If we can settle down quickly it will be better for us. In the last two matches against Pakistan, we settled down early but out finishing let us down,” said Sarjit.
“We are starting with several youngsters and also with players who have little experience,” he said. “Our preparations have been good so far with matches in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Nations Cup and the recent European tour.”
“It is important that the players make sure we settle down early in every match and take control of the game,” added Sarjit, a former two-time Olympian. He was the national junior coach from 2004 to 2006, and national senior team coach from 2007 to 2008.
Getting off to a winning start, he said, is vital because it sets the momentum for the Speedy Tigers in the rest of the ACT.
Sarjit was reflecting on Malaysia’s performance against Pakistan in the 2024 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (SAS Cup) and FIH Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland. In the SAS Cup held in May, the Speedy Tigers went 3-1 ahead and then extended the lead to 4-3 before losing 4-5.
In Poland, the Malaysians began their journey with a comfortable 4-1 lead only to fall back and allow the Green Shirts to draw level 4-4.
For Sarjit, who was appointed coach of the senior team by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) in March, the 2024 ACT in Inner Mongolia will be a real test ahead of many other important international tournaments next year leading to the crucial 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
He stressed that the recent European hockey tour was successful as the experience of playing under pressure at the highest level against the then Paris Olympic-bound teams Germany, the Netherlands, India and Belgium will help the Speedy Tigers in their journey to the ACT and 2026 Asian Games.
“It was a good tour. We played against good and strong teams. It’s always nice to have healthy competition. The teams we played against (Germany, Netherlands and India) eventually qualified for the Olympic semi-finals. We are indeed grateful to all the teams that accommodated us on the tour.”
“Unfortunately, Belgium did not make it to the semi-finals but we are nevertheless thankful to them for giving us the opportunity to play against their national B team,” he added.
The Malaysians kicked off their tour with a thrilling 3-2 win over Belgium ‘B’ in Antwerp, and in Germany, they left behind the disappointment of the 1-10 defeat against Germany’s Olympic-bound team to produce an all-round inspiring performance to secure a 9-2 victory over Monchengladbach Hockey Club.
The Speedy Tigers will travel to Hulunbuir City on Sept 3.
The best the Malaysians have fared in seven editions of the tournament since 2011 was qualifying for the 2023 final for the first time before losing 3-4 to India. However, they have won bronze medals in five consecutive editions (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2018).
“The team will play a friendly match against the South Koreans on Sept 4 and probably a second match against the Koreans on Sept 6,” said Sarjit.
The ACT is played by Asia’s best six teams. The Indians are ranked No 1 in Asia, followed by the Malaysians (2), Japan (3), South Korea (4), Pakistan (5) and China (6).