PETALING JAYA, June 21 — Malaysia simply did not have time to field a women’s team for the World League Semifinals at the 11th hour.
Having finished third at the World League Round Two, Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim’s team were offered to replace Azerbaijan, who did not turn up for the Olympic qualifying tournament.
“We would love to send the ladies but it was logistically impossible. If only we knew earlier,” said Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) chief executive officer K Logan Raj.
“The offer came in at 7am yesterday (Friday) and after consulting with the president (Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal) and the coaches, we turned it down.”
The national team were heartbroken when they missed the ticket to Belgium via Round Two in New Delhi last match.
Logan explained the timing was such the team would not have been in their best condition to compete.
“We had less than a day to assemble the team, sort out equipment and travel to Belgium. It was not possible,” he said.
Azerbaijan qualified by virtue of being the higher ranked third-placed team in the World League Round Two.
France directly replaced Azerbaijan in Group A and played the opener against Holland last night.
Belarus and Chile were offered the spot but turned it down.
