KUALA LUMPUR, 30 SEPT – The Sabah women’s hockey squad has confirmed that they will not play in the 2024 Tun Abdul Razak Cup hockey tournament held at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bahru from 2 to 12 October.
The chairman of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (KHM) Competition Committee, Datuk Seri Dr Anil Jeet Singh said the withdrawal of the defending champion was due to financial constraints.
However, he said the absence of the Sabah women’s team will not affect the competition as the national youth squad, Young Tigress will fill the void in preparation for participating in the Asian Youth Cup in Muscat, Oman from 11 to 19 November.
“For Sabah, they lack allocations and can only send one team,” he said at the Tun Abdul Razak Cup press conference at the Malaysian Hockey Confederation Office here today.
Meanwhile, Anil who is also the Sabah Hockey President said that even without the participation of female players, he is optimistic that the men’s squad will be able to cause a surprise and aim to at least reach the semi-finals.
A total of 25 teams participated this year involving 14 men’s teams and 11 women’s teams.
For the men’s category, defending champions Kuala Lumpur were drawn together with Pahang, Johor, Selangor, Penang, Perlis and Singapore in Group A.
Group B also saw last year’s runner-up, Melaka voted together with Perak, PDRM, ATM, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah.
Meanwhile, last edition’s women’s category finalists, Selangor were drawn in Group A together with Penang, Pahang, Perak and Johor while Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, ATM and Young Tigress were in Group B. – Bernama
