MHC serious to bid for 2018 Men's World Cup

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is seriously considering putting a bid to host the Men's World Cup 2018 in Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur, said its president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

"It will be 16 years since we hosted the 2002 World Cup and the nation is hungry to put on another spectacular tournament," he said addressing the 43rd International Hockey Federation (FIH) Congress gala dinner last night.

Present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah who is also former MHC president and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Malaysia hosted the World Cup twice, in 1975 and 2002. Tengku Abdullah thanked Najib on his support for Malaysia's long-term hockey development programmes.

"Through his support and government funding, we've been able to use hockey to create a positive influence among young people and attain our dreams of seeing more young people taking up the sport," he said.

Tengku Abdullah also hopes that the Prime Minister would continue to support MHC in developing better infrastructure, including laying more hockey turfs throughout the country.