Women's hockey squad ready for uphill battle - Dharma Raj

The national women's hockey squad is optimistic of creating upsets to qualify for the 2018 World Cup when they meet the best teams in the world at the Women's Hockey World League (WHWL) Semi-Final Round in Brussels, Belgium from June 21 to July 2.

Despite needing only one win at the tournament to enter the quarter-finals of WHWL and qualify for the 2018 World Cup, it may not be as easy as it sounds as the Malaysian Tigress have been drawn with 2014 World Cup runners-up, Australia, world number five New Zealand, Spain (10) and hosts Belgium (14) in Group B.

However, chief coach Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah said the squad who are ranked 22nd in the world would have to go all out to achieve the mission which looked like a herculean task in their debut appearance at this level.

"Malaysia are the lowest ranked among 20 teams in action at the WHWL Semi-Final Rounds in Brussels and Johannesburg. For many people, Malaysia look overwhelmed.

"But the players are confident of giving their stronger opponents a tough fight. I am optimistic they will play their best but will it be enough to qualify for World Cup? I cannot answer that as the semi-final round is very different and new to them," he said.

He was speaking at a media conference to announce the list of 18 players going to Belgium and they comprise almost the same players in the squad which emerged as runners-up at WHWL Second Round in Kuala Lumpur in January.

This time, Dharma Raj has also included experienced player Norbaini Hashim who has recovered from an injury, defender Syafiqah Mohd Zain to fill the slot left by Siti Shahidah Saad who retired and Nur Zafirah Aziz who took the place of Surizan Awang Noh at the frontline.

Dharma Raj said his focus was to obtain at least one win against Belgium and Spain while putting up credible performances against Australia and New Zealand.

As a warm up for WHWL, Malaysia would be having three friendly matches against three leading Dutch clubs, he said.

"We will arrive in Amsterdam on Tuesday morning, in the evening we will be playing against HIC and will meet Hurley (June 14) and Pinoke (June 15) before leaving for Belgium on June 18.

"I hope the players will benefit from the warm up matches. It is important as the players showed improvement after playing 13 friendly matches in a tour of Europe in April," he said.

Malaysia will be starting their WHWL campaign against Australia on June 21 and meet Spain (June 22), Belgium (June 24) and New Zealand (June 27) in which the top four teams will advance to the quarter-finals.

The 18 shortlisted players are Juliani Mohamad Din, Siti Noor Amarina Ruhani (Capt), Raja Norsharina Raja Shabuddin, Nor Hasliza Md Ali, Fatin Shafika Mohd Sukri, Nurul Nabihah Mansur, Mas Huzaimah Md Aziz, Norazlin Sumantri and Siti Rahmah Othman.

Also listed are Wan Norfaiezah Md Saiuti, Hanis Nadiah Onn, Farah Ayuni Yahya, Fazilla Sylverster Silin, Nuraini Abdul Rashid, Nurbaini Hashim, Nur Syafiqah Mohd Zain, Nuraslinda Said and Nur Zafirah Aziz.

-- BERNAMA