Commonwealth Games: Humiliation for men's hockey team
BY VIJESH RAI - 29 JULY 2014 @ 9:14 PM
GLASGOW: The national hockey team fell to a shock defeat to Trinidad & Tobago as Malaysia's high of two gold medals on Monday was replaced by gloom in the Commonwealth Games today.
Malaysia, who were thrashed 8-1 by England after beating Canada 2-0 in their earlier group B matches, were expected to cruise to victory against a team with no known hockey pedigree.
Instead, the team suffered what must rank as among the worst defeats in the history of Malaysian hockey.
Kwandwane Browne scored a hat-trick of penalty corner goals while Mickell Pierre hit the other with Malaysia replying through Norhizzat Sumantri and Muhamad Ramadan Rosli.
The match was lost after just 15 minutes as Trinidad raced into a 3-0 lead, and when the hooter was sounded for half-time, Malaysia were down 4-1.
There was not to be a comeback as Malaysia's second goal was scored by Ramadan in the dying seconds of the match and fans must be fearful of what is to come next as the national team's final group match is against New Zealand on Thursday.
The Kiwis showed their class by shocking England 2-1 in an earlier match and despite having sealed their semi-final spot, will be out to confirm their status as group winners to avoid Australia in the crossover semi-finals.
Elsewhere, lawn bowler Muhammad Hizlee Abdul Rais beat Samuela Tuikiligana in a singles match as he looks to add to the silver he won in the pairs on Monday.There was defeat suffered in the women's pairs though as Malaysia lost to Northern Ireland.
In shooting, Mohd Hadafi Jaafar qualified for the 50m rifle 3 positions final while Amir Hasan made the final of the 25m rapid fire pistol. Both finals are scheduled for later today.
Boxer Khir Akyazlan Azmi is also scheduled to face Sean Duffy of England in the quarter-finals of the men's 64kg.
