Youngster Syed Syafiq gets big call-up
DEFENDER Syed Syafiq Cholan is only 22 years old but already he has played in the World Cup, and yesterday he got a call for Olympic action
The defender was among the 18 selected for the pre-Olympic qualifier at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on April 26-May 4.
The back-up penalty corner flicker, who has 64 caps, represented the country in the 2017 Asia Cup (silver), 2018 Asian Games (silver) and 2018 Asian Champions Triphy (bronze).
His selection for the preOlympic tournament should also earn him a spot in the final qualifier in November as well.
“I rested for a few weeks after picking up a wrist injury in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) but I have been training hard for this moment.
“I would like to help Malaysia qualify for the Olympics after 20 years, and the first step is doing well in the Series Finals,” he said.
He has been training under Dutch penalty corner coach Taeke Taekema, a week before the Azlan Shah Cup, and now as well.
“All (four) penalty corner flickers (in the Malaysian team) have their own styles and Taekema is working to correct some aspects of our drag. He is also building our confidence level,” said Syed Syafiq.
Taekema, who is also working on Najmi Farizal Jazlan, Faizal Shaari as well as Razie Rahim, also believes penalty corners is all about practice, and mental strength.
‘Mental strength, the push-in, the perfect stop and then the dragflick, it’s a team effort and only when every section does well, can a team score. And Malalaysia have the advantage of having four flickers, and this should provide some surprises in this tournament.”
Taekema, without elaborating, said all four players have their own strengths and weaknesses.