Win-win scenario for Malaysia, India
India women’s hockey team have a glorious past, and a rosy future, so why did they agree to play a Five-Test series with Malaysia?
For the record, India have played in two Olympics (1980 Moscow and 2016 Rio), and are gunning for their third appearance in Tokyo next year.
They have also played in seven World Cup editions. In the 2018 London edition, the World No 9 finished eighth.
As for Malaysia, the World No 22 have neither played in the Olympics nor the World Cup.
Both teams have completed two test matches with India recording 3-0 and 5-0 wins.
When India coach Sjoerd Marijne was asked this question his reply was: “We needed matches before the FIH Series Finals (a pre-Olympic qualifying event) and the opportunity came when Malaysia invited us.
“Also, in our pre-Olympic qualifier, we will be playing similar teams like Malaysia,” said the Dutchman.
The similar teams Marijne meant are Chile, Fiji, Mexico, Poland, Russia and Uruguay, who India will be facing in Hiroshima on June 15-23.
Malaysia will play their pre-qualifier in Dublin on June 8-16.
K. Dharmaraj’s side are in Group A with Ireland, Singapore and the Czech Republic while Group B comprises France, South Korea, Ukraine and Scotland.
“We are using the test matches against India to prepare for our Dublin assignment.
“The Irish are our toughest opponent in our group, and playing India and later Spain and Italy in friendlies will help in our quest of doing well in the preOlympic qualifier,” said Dharmaraj.
The top two teams in each pre-qualifying event will advance to the next round of qualifiers.
Malaysia will take on India in today’s third test match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.