Contributed by reader
The Singapore men’s national hockey team. They finished as runners-up in the Robi Asian Games Qualifying Hockey Tournament and, for the first time since 1998, will play at the Asian Games in November. (Photo 1 © reader)
The Singapore men’s national hockey team created history by finishing runners-up at the recently concluded Robi Asian Games Qualifying Hockey Tournament held from 7-16 May 2010 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Singapore started the campaign on a positive note by beating Thailand 5-2 in their first game of the tournament. However, in the second game, Singapore fell to Chinese Taipei 1-4 under the hot sun, despite having greater ball possession and control of the game.
Singapore then bounced back to beat Hong Kong 3-1, showing great mental strength and determination.
The fourth game saw Singapore sharing points with eventual champions, Oman, after the game ended 1-1. Singapore were ‘robbed’ of a victory after Oman scored a controversial equalizer goal in the last eight minutes of the game.
Not letting the disappointment get to them, Singapore fought all out against the host country, Bangladesh, in the next game and won 1-0 in the hot blistering weather. Singapore have never beaten Bangladesh as long as hockey fans can remember and it was an important win for Singapore who were aiming to finish in the top two in the tournament.
Singapore lost 1-3 in the last game against Sri Lanka as the heat and fatigue finally took a toll on the team, having to play back-to-back games in the unfavourable weather conditions. Despite the loss, Singapore finished second in the tournament, one point behind Oman and qualified for the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November.
The last time the Singapore men’s national hockey team featured in the Asian Games was in 1998, in Bangkok. Congratulations to the Singapore team and we wish them all the best for their next assignment.
Team Singapore: Robin Ng, Zulkarnain Salim, Farhan Suhaili, Sabri Yuhari, Fazly Abdul Rahman, Kelvin Lim, Haseef Salim, Faris Ali, Baqir Asali, Prashan A, Tan Yiru, Hazmi Ibrahim, Sivakaanthan, Chia Kaibin, Enrico Eliph Marican, Johnson Sivalingam, Farhan Kamsami, Ian Vanderput
Coach: Lim Chiow Chuan, Mohamed Ali
Manager: DAC Kuldeep Singh
[…] fans are particularly upset because they qualified outright for the Asian Games when they came in second at a recent qualifying tournament. The Asian Games hockey competition is a 12-team format but the SNOC did not select them because […]
How are they to improve their rankings if they are never allowed to get the exposure?
what does this say? that we are the hosts of the youth olympic games but we only like results.
why did they send them to the Asian Games Qualifications then? Since they had no intention of sending them to the Asian Games no matter what?
Result is that they EARNED their spot in the Asian Games that is result and to deprive them of that goes against the Olympic principles to begin with.
They definitely won’t win, but they HAVE to start somewhere and if no one gives them the opportunity then we’re always going to be stuck in the same place.
What does this tell the Youth Olympic Games boys then? that they should play for themselves? because evidently, the country does not support them and will not support them.
The only reason they are getting the opportunity is because it is free.
It is a disgrace to the National Olympic Committee and not in the spirit of sport at all.
Where do you want to put the stop. Bring every body to ASIAN Games? Results are important. If they struggle to beat this teams after given the opportunity and struggle in Razak Cup and struggle in SEA Games than they do not deserve. As said by truth, it is the tax payers money and I want accountability and not pity. These teams they played are minnows and they struggled to finish second and this was the opportunity they got and let it slip.
[…] Singapore U-23 national squad was sent to the Doha Asian Games while the hockey team recently came in second in the Asian Games qualifier to secure a spot in […]
WERE ANY OF THESE PLAYERS FEATURE IN THE SCHOOLS SPORTS SCENE PREVIOUSLY?
Team Singapore: Robin Ng, Zulkarnain Salim, Farhan Suhaili, Sabri Yuhari, Fazly Abdul Rahman, Kelvin Lim, Haseef Salim, Faris Ali, Baqir Asali, Prashan A, Tan Yiru, Hazmi Ibrahim, Sivakaanthan, Chia Kaibin, Enrico Eliph Marican, Johnson Sivalingam, Farhan Kamsami, Ian Vanderput
I tend to agree with truth. The must be a proper basis for selection based on results. We can emphatise with players but to use it to justify to send them for a major games might not be the right result. It might be counter-productive. If they get whacked the morale of the players and the pride of the nation. We cannot say Korea has full time players. That is not part of the argument. It becomes sympathy and pity which has no room at this level. What stops them from being professionals. Are they not good enough or afraid or effort. If they good than they should go if not stay at home and train. Pity and excuse for them do not sit well at professional level competition like Asian Games. If you want exposure try SEA Games and Razak Cup and that is fair enough for the talent we have. Learn to walk before we run.
There is a difference being pity and reasoning. Yes, I agree they worked hard. If that is the yardstick, we should send our water-polo, soccer and whole host of swimmers. They also worked hard and is that our reasoning for sending them. This is tax payers money we are talking about and you want people to go because you pity them. We must be accountable and proper justification. This is my money too. If you pity why not you sponsor, I am ok with it.Sorry, my contention is what results they have to go. Being second in a second and third rate competition is no justification. Our soccer boys are Tiger Cup Champs and Water-polo boys are SEA Games gold medallist. Where will the pity stop and quantifiable result be the yardstick for selection. Be realistic pls.
sometimes its not abt the outcome but the process. the most impt thing is the boys do their best.they have sacrificed so much.of cos compared to the other countries eg msia korea etc they have full time players who gets paid trg and playing. this team is made up most of student athletes who have to juggle sch and hockey and some who are working.going to trg after work and runnig their ass off. the least we could do is support them and considering their limitations, i think we should be proud of them.its the PASSION.period.
We are not good enough. We struggle with the minnows and I do not think we should be wasting money sending this team to Asian Games.
Its people like you who are not supportive of teams in singapore that don’t give them enough funding, support, encouragement, and the motivation to do better. They work their asses off, training and running. And not forgetting studying, or others working, to supplement their passion for the sport and to bring up Singapore’s name. These players are not played and sponsored to play, they have to pay for everything themselves. I know of one player who had to work part-time jobs just so that he could play in an overseas competition. So if you say they are not good enough, why don’t you give them the funding they need to really improve?
Why should I sponsor them. I said they are not good enough to go. You said they should go. Since you want them to go, why not you sponsor. That is logical. I do not care whether they are good or bad. My contention is that they are not good enough to go, simple.