THE TOP TEN
10 after a long time by December,” said Subahan.
Subahan said the Commonwealth Games is still important, but it will be treated more of an exposure for the players ahead of the Asian Games and World Cup.
“Our best available players will play in Gold Coast. We will use the tournament to build a solid team and it will be a bonus if we can make the semi-finals,” he said.
He said the availability of goalkeeper S. Kumar, who is provisionally suspended for failing a drug test at the Asia Cup in October, will be a telling factor in Malaysia’s hopes of achieving targets.
“We hope the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will set Kumar’s hearing sometime this month.
The case will be heard at FIH’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“Although, Kumar is already 38, he is still our No 1 goalkeeper, and we do need him greatly for the Asian Games and World Cup.
“Kumar will state his case at the hearing and hopefully, he will not be handed a harsh punishment,” said Subahan.
Subahan is also happy that the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL), which starts with the P. Alegandra Cup tomorrow, has attracted some of the best hockey players in the world.
“Argentine Gonzalo Peillat, the No 1 penalty corner flicker, is among those who will play in the MHL.
“It shows that our league is recognised as among the best.
“If our league was useless, the best players would not have come here,” Subahan added.