GUANGZHOU, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Their target is to enter the semi-finals but the men's hockey team are fully aware that a gold at the 16th Asian Games here will give them an automatic ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.
Team manager George Koshi said winning any other medal meant that Malaysia would have to go through the qualifying tournaments, enroute to London.
"But to be realistic, it's a daunting task to win the Asiad gold. We'll have to play against Asia's giants, South Korea and China who are drawn with us in Group A," he told reporters, here Thursday.
The other team in Group A are Singapore and Oman.
Koshi said the only way to reach the semis would be to beat Singapore and Oman and try to tame South Korea and China.
Malaysia's best-ever placing in the Asian Games was third place achieved in 1978 (Bangkok), 1990 (Beijing) and 2002 (Busan).
Malaysia are ranked 15th in the world while South Korea are sixth, China (14th), Oman (43rd) and Singapore (39th).
Team manager George Koshi said winning any other medal meant that Malaysia would have to go through the qualifying tournaments, enroute to London.
"But to be realistic, it's a daunting task to win the Asiad gold. We'll have to play against Asia's giants, South Korea and China who are drawn with us in Group A," he told reporters, here Thursday.
The other team in Group A are Singapore and Oman.
Koshi said the only way to reach the semis would be to beat Singapore and Oman and try to tame South Korea and China.
Malaysia's best-ever placing in the Asian Games was third place achieved in 1978 (Bangkok), 1990 (Beijing) and 2002 (Busan).
Malaysia are ranked 15th in the world while South Korea are sixth, China (14th), Oman (43rd) and Singapore (39th).
Koshi said except for Azreen Rizal Nasir who would replace Jiwa Mohan, the other players were the same squad who played in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games last month.
Team captain Mohd Madzli Ikmar Mohd Nor said after their dismal performance in New Delhi by finishing eighth in the 10-team tournament, they had three weeks of tough training to mend their weaknesses.
"I think our morale is better now and we are raring to prove ourselves," he said.
Malaysia will open their campaign against Singapore on Monday (Nov 15) before playing against South Korea the next day (Nov 16). The battle against hosts China is on Wednesday (Nov 17) before completing the group matches with Oman on Friday (Nov 19).
-- BERNAMA
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