Shifting focus indoors
Najmi aims at defending Indoor asia cup title after national trials omission
PETALING JAYA: Hockey defender Najmi Farizal Jazlan, who was not called up for the ongoing national senior trials, will shift focus on helping Malaysia to retain their crown in the Indoor Asia Cup in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan from May 22-28.
National head coach Sarjit Singh did not include regulars Najmi, another defender Aminuddin Zain and striker Ashran Hamsani in his plans but it has opened up another door for the trio in the Malaysian indoor squad.
Najmi captained Malaysia to their maiden crown in Bangkok in 2022 when they upstaged eight-time champions Iran in the final.
Ashran was part of that victorious squad while Shello Silverius and Norsyafiq Sumantri were the other Speedy Tigers members who played in the indoor tournament.
Since Shello and Norsyafiq are currently attending the national trials, which ends at the National Hockey Stadium on Saturday, national indoor hockey chief coach Rodhanizam Mat Radzi said Aminuddin’s presence will strengthen the squad.
Some of the other non-national players with experience who have also been included in the training squad are Firdaus Omar of Terengganu, Aslam Hanafiah who plays for Maybank, goalkeeper Hamiz Akhir and Hazrul Faiz Ahmad Sobri.
Rodhanizam said the objective is to defend the title they won two years ago and secure a spot in the 2025 Indoor World Cup in Porec, Croatia.
“We broke Iran’s stranglehold in the tournament by winning our maiden title in Bangkok and our aim is to retain the crown in Kazakhstan,” said Rodhanizam.
“We have Najmi, Ashran and Aminuddin to spearhead the team this time and there is a possibility we can get a few more players once the national trials end this weekend.
“We are keeping an eye on several players in the team and if they don’t make it to the final 30, they can join us for the Indoor Asia Cup preparations.
“We have started training early and I have to thank Malaysian Hockey Confederation president (Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal) for helping us to begin our preparations despite the financial constraints.”
Rodhanizam said he would also seek Sarjit’s permission to release one or two additional national senior players for the Indoor Asia Cup where the tournament serves as a World Cup qualifier.
Top two teams from the men and the women’s champions will proceed to play in Croatia.
“Experienced players like Shello and Norsyafiq will be helpful in our campaign and I have to discuss with Sarjit if he can allow us to use them in the Indoor Asia Cup,” added Rodhanizam.
“The title defence will be tough as Iran will loom as the biggest threat while Indonesia, Thailand and Kazakhstan will also go all out to secure the two World Cup spots.”
Iran, one of the top teams in indoor hockey globally, will be eyeing revenge while Indonesia, who denied Malaysia gold through a shootout at the Cambodia SEA Games last year, will not be pushovers.
In the women’s event, defending champions Thailand are the favourites and Malaysia will be hoping to make it to the final after finishing third in 2022.