Kuala lumpur: The national men's hockey team have set a realistic target of reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIH Hockey Men's World Cup, to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from Aug 14 to 30. Team manager Datuk Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak said although Malaysia have been drawn in Group B, widely regarded as one of the toughest groups, the Speedy Tigers remain optimistic of producing positive results and improving on their 13th-place finish at the 2023 edition in Bhubaneswar, India.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Ahmad Najmi emphasized that despite the challenges in Group B, nothing is impossible in sport. He noted the example of Cape Verde in football, who managed to secure a draw against strong opponents. His message to the players is centered on hard work and following instructions diligently. Reflecting on the previous World Cup, where Malaysia narrowly missed advancing to the quarter-finals due to a shoot-out loss, he expressed his hope to see the team progress further this time.
The team's preparations for the tournament have been more thorough, and they head into the competition with enhanced confidence and determination to improve on their past performance. The Speedy Tigers' fifth-place finish at the FIH Nations Cup in June has provided a significant morale boost for the team under the guidance of Coach Brendon Carolan.
Datuk Ahmad Najmi also highlighted the extensive video analysis sessions conducted with the coach to identify and rectify past mistakes. He stressed the importance of avoiding simple errors in their World Cup games. Malaysia's Group B competitors include defending champions Germany, runners-up Belgium, and France.
In preparation for the World Cup, the national squad is set to depart for Belgium on Aug 3 for a six-day training camp at Gantoise Hockey Club in Ghent. They will play a friendly match against Spain in Wavre on Aug 13, before beginning their World Cup campaign against Germany on Aug 15, followed by matches against France on Aug 17 and hosts Belgium on Aug 19.