Walsh all praise for talented Kirandeep
Kirandeep Kaur stole the limelight when the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) released the men and women’s team lists yesterday for the Indonesia Asian Games,
The 15-year-old was the only “new face” included as the men and women’s teams gun for gold and bronze in Jakarta respectively.
MHC Technical Director Terry Walsh was all praise for the Form Three student.
“The rest of the players, men and women, are familiar faces with Kirandeep Kaur being the exciting new inclusion. I have watched her in training as well as matches, and I believe she has tremendous potential at such a young age,” said the International Hockey Federation Master coach.
NSTP Sport reported on Wednesday that Kirandeep will become the youngest hockey player in Malaysian history to play in the Asian Games, thanks to visionary coach K. Dharmaraj.
When asked what the men and women’s teams are capable of at the Asian Games, Dharmaraj said: “Expect both our teams to break new ground in the Games.
“The women should put up a good fight to qualify for the semifinals and then chase for a medal, while the men should play in the final.”
The men are in Group B with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Kazakhstan and Thailand while the women are in Group A with China, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Yesterday, players from both teams received shoes sponsorship from Vik Network.
THE TEAMS — MEN: S. Kumar (gk), Hairi Rahman (gk), Sukri Mutalib, Razie Rahim, Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan, Azri Hassan, Faiz Helmi Jali, Nabil Fiqri, Marhan Jalil, Meor Azuan Hassan, Fitri Saari, Joel Samuel van Huizen, Amirol Aideed Arshad, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Faizal Saari, Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi, Firhan Ashari, Shahril Saabah.
WOMEN: Farah Ayuni Yahya, Mas Huzaimah Aziz, Siti Noor Amarina, Juliani Din, Raja Norsharina, Nuraini Rashid, Fatin Shafika, Fazilla Sylvester Silin, Wan Norfaiezah Saiuti, Surizan Awang Noh, Norazlin Sumantri, Hanis Nadia Onn, Nuraslinda Said, Nur Syafiqah Zain, Nur Amirah Shakirah, Nur Zafirah Aziz, Kirandeep Kaur, Noor Hasliza Ali.