Dharmaraj to name team for Gold Coast after Japan friendlies

KUALA LUMPUR: The women’s hockey team for the Commonwealth Games will be finalised after five friendly matches against Japan.

National coach K. Dharmaraj has lined up the matches with the Japan’s Under-21 squad next month at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Dharmaraj said he would name 18 players from 26 trainees for the Games in Gold Coast, Australia, from April 4-15.

“I have selected 26 players based on their performance in last year’s Razak Cup but the squad will be trimmed after the friendlies,” said Dharmaraj.

“Currently, the players are playing for their respective clubs in the national league and they will report for training on March 5.

“I’ve been watching all the six clubs in action and a few players have impressed me. We’ll call them up for training.”

He has planned for two more friendly matches against New South Wales state.

“We depart for Australia on March 26. We’ll have practice matches with New South Wales there,” said Dharmaraj, who guided the

Malaysian women’s team to qualify for their first-ever World League semi-finals in Brussels, Belgium, last June.

Malaysia are ranked 22nd in the world and they are drawn in Group A with world No. 2 England, India (No. 10), South Africa (No. 14) and Wales (No. 26) at the Games.

Group B comprises world No. 4 New Zealand, defending champions Australia (No. 5), Scotland (No. 18), Canada (No. 21) and Ghana (No. 30).

Malaysia finished seventh out of 10 teams that featured at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.