Kumar under no pressure as sole M'sian goalkeeper
Published on: Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Kuala Lumpur: National hockey goalkeeper S. Kumar said he did not face any pressure when interim coach Arul Selvaraj decided he would be the sole goalkeeper in the squad for the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.S. Kumar said the decision to send only one goalkeeper for the first time was a practical one."I feel this is not an issue as South Korea, Australia and Germany also send only one goalkeeper. We only need a second goalkeeper if there is injury," he told reporters after the handing over of the national hockey team's jerseys at National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil here Tuesday.
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The new jerseys were handed over by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation general secretary, Datuk Mohd Johari Abdul Aziz, and Asian Games hockey team manager, Tai Beng Hai.The media reported that Arul had named one goalkeeper as priority was given to strikers and defenders due to the fast pace.Arul said if goalkeeper S. Kumar was injured, he still can call up Mohammad Izad Hakimi as replacement.Malaysia are in Group A together with Singapore, Bangladesh, South Korea and Japan.
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Group B comprise India, Pakistan, Oman, China and Sri Lanka.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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For the record, the hockey squad won a bronze medal in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, and the silver medal in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. - Bernama
