‘It will take a miracle against Japan’

six of their players ill or injured, the national women's handball squad will have their work cut out against Japan tomorrow in the Asian Games.

Team manager Vijaya Kumar Arumugam confirmed that two players, Siti Zubaidah Mohd Salleh and Nurul Alia Saimi, will have to sit out the match due to finger and shoulder injuries. Goalkeeper Aqilah Hasya Haris Fadzillah is a doubt due to wrist injury.

Farah Atifah Ahmad Yusop is also suffering from a shoulder injury while Nurul Irdina Yazid and Nur Atikah Azman are struggling with food poisoning. The trio, however, are expected to recover to play tomorrow.

Malaysia lost 23-15 to Indonesia in their opening Group B match on Tuesday.

Vijaya believes that playing Japan, silver medallists in Incheon four years ago, will be even harder with the injury woes that Malaysia face.

Vijaya added that the Malaysians have been preparing to counter Japan's aggressive style of play.

"We need to play a slow game as we know Japan, who are ranked second in Asia, play fast with a lot of piston movement.”

“It will take a miracle to beat them but we will try our best to reduce the margin."

The men's team lost both their group matches against Qatar (64-11) and Iran (55-11). They will compete in the 9th-13th classification matches which start on Monday.