KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — Three former internationals who represented Malaysia in the 1970’s will showcase their skills in the 2015 Grand Masters Hockey Asia Cup Tournament from Oct 26 to Nov 1 at the Pantai Hockey Stadium, here.

The players are Datuk Poon Fook Loke, M. Mahendran and R. Pathmarajah who helped Malaysia finish fourth in the 1975 Men's Hockey World Cup at Stadium Merdeka which remains the best ever performance so far.

President of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Veteran Hockey Association Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur said the biennial masters tournament which involves players age of 60 years and above will see the defending champion Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and also hosts Malaysia fight for honours.

He said beside the tournament, the association will also organise the 29th Pacific Rim International Masters Hockey, involving six teams — Australia A and B, Scotland, England, Europe-based team Alliance International Hockey Club and newcomers Egypt in the same period, at the Ministry of Education’s Hockey pitch.

“We are happy to say that both tournaments have been sanctioned by both the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the World Grand Masters Association (WGMA),” he told reporters after the unveiling AmBank Group as the main sponsor for the tournament, here, today.

Mustafa said both tournaments will use the round robin format and the winner in both tournaments will battle in the final at the Pantai Hockey Stadium on Nov 1, to decide the overall champion of the tournament.

“We are gunning for the overall champion as we have a few experienced players who have played in this tournament before," he added.

Meanwhile, AmBank Group Corporate Communications head Syed Anuar Syed Ali said Ambank are delighted to be the title sponsor of the tournament that will provide an opportunity for ex-internationals to showcase their talent.

“We hope the young players can pick up tips from the veteran players,” he said.

For the record, Malaysia won the first edition of the Grand Masters Hockey Asia Cup Tournament in Singapore in 2011 before Japan emerged champion in Hong Kong, two years later. — Bernama