M’sian women hockey eighth at Commonwealth Games

GOLD COAST: The national women’s hockey team ended up in eighth spot in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Australia after losing 2-4 to the world’s number 18th team, Scotland.

In the deciding action for seventh and eighth place at the Gold Coast Hockey Stadium, Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah’s squad was trailing 0-3 until the end of the first half.

Scotland opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute via a field goal by Millie Brown, before Amy Brodie shook Malaysia’s goal in the 22nd and 27th minute.

In the second half, Malaysia, who were startled by Scotland’s advance, scored the first goal through a penalty corner in the 31st minute by Fatin Shafika Mahd Sukri.

Malaysia, who appeared more confident in the second half, doubled the goal through Nuraini Abdul Rashid in the 40th minute before Lucy Lanigan scored the winning goal for Scotland in the 51st minute.

Muhammad Dharma Raj said overall, after the end of the challenge in the Commonwealth Games, he saw several players with the potential to become world-class players.

“I’m very pleased with the improvement displayed by some of the players who have shown a very encouraging progress. Goalkeeper Farah Ayuni Yahya stands out as a world-class keeper.

“The team grew up from our coaching to perform with a high fighting spirit until the final minute. The women’s team have such a spirit,” he said after the match’s conclusion yesterday.

He said the country’s hockey team would go to the Asian Champions Trophy Championship (ACT) in South Korea as an exposure before starting the Asian Games in Jakarta.