FIFTH CAN STILL EARN MALAYSIA OLYMPIC SPOT

Malaysia must win fifth place to stay on track for Olympics

ANTWERP: It’s the last chance saloon for Malaysian hockey.

They have to beat Ireland at the KHC Dragons Stadium in Brasschaat today to stay on track for a place to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next year.

Malaysia landed in this unenviable position after failing to qualify for the last four of the ongoing World Hockey League Semi-Finals, which would have given them a sure ticket to the Rio Games.

Now, they have to finish at least fifth and hope to earn their berth as one of the reserve teams. In the playoff for the fifth to eighth placings, they beat France 4-1 while Ireland defeated Pakistan 1-0 on Friday.

In the first World Hockey League Semi-Finals held in Argentina last month, Holland, Germany and Argentina booked their tickets for Rio. Canada, who finished fourth are considered the first reserves followed by 11th-ranked Spain, who ended up fifth.

Thus, the winner of the match between Malaysia (ranked 12th) and Ireland (14th) will be the next in line.

There are four tournaments to decide the continental champions – Pan-American Games, European championships, All African Games and the Oceania playoff. And if any of the winners of these four tournaments have qualified for Rio, then their places will go to the reserves like Canada, Spain, Malaysia or Ireland.

India, who together with Australia, Belgium and Britain, are in the semi-finalshere, have qualified that, we need to beat Ireland tomorrow (today). There are no two ways about it,” he said.

“We knew from the start that if we fail at the quarter-finals, then this (fifth placing playoff ) is the only chance left.”

Beng Hai is confident that his players will put up a good show against Ireland.

“They did very well against France ... doing all the right things. as continental champions by winning the Asian Games gold medal.

National coach Tai Beng Hai admitted yesterday that “finishing fifth is almost like gaining an Olympic berth”.

“There are still many vacancies available when the continental championships are completed. It is for us to make sure we are in a position to take one of the spots. To do There’s no reason why we cannot maintain that level and take the match to Ireland. We’ve beaten them before, so we have it in us to win again,” said Beng Hai.

Malaysia beat France 4-1 after coming back from a goal down. Earlier, Malaysia defeated Ireland 4-2 in their preliminary group match.

Skipper Mohd Razie Rahim said that the players will go all out against the Irish.

“We cannot fail now. We’re just one match away and our dream of an Olympic berth is very much alive. We’ll be in a good frame of mind and will work harder than before,” he pledged.

Ireland are also gunning for their first-ever Olympic appearance since the first Games in 1908. Malaysia last played in the Olympics 15 years ago – in Sydney 2000.