Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has committed to securing four gold medals at the 2027 SEA Games through an intensive exposure programme aimed at enhancing the national hockey squad’s performance. This initiative currently involves the men’s and women’s squads at various age levels, including the under-18 (U-18) category.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal stated that the target includes gold medals in men’s and women’s field hockey, men’s indoor hockey, and men’s five-a-side (5s) hockey. Additionally, two silver medals are anticipated in women’s 5s hockey and women’s indoor hockey. “We promise to ensure that Malaysia will be able to get four gold medals and two silver medals at the SEA Games here in two years,” he affirmed at the MHC National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP) press conference held at the National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

The two-year plan includes overseas exposure programmes, starting with a mission for the U-18 men’s and women’s squads to Perth, followed by a series of matches and further training in South Africa, Amsterdam, and New Zealand. Subahan emphasized the goal of continuous player development, aiming for maturity by the time Malaysia hosts the games.

He also announced financial support from the National Sports Council (NSC) for the NHDP over the next two years, ensuring smooth preparations for the national youth and senior squads. Special focus will be placed on the development of the women’s team to enhance their competitiveness against regional rivals, particularly Thailand.

Reflecting on the recent success at the Thailand SEA Games, Subahan highlighted the national men’s 5s hockey squad’s gold medal win, marking a significant achievement as 5s hockey was contested for the first time. The squad triumphed over Indonesia 7-3 in the final. Conversely, the national women’s squad secured a silver medal after a 1-7 loss to Thailand in their final match.