KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 – A dominant Malaysia’s men’s 50s team roared back to winning ways with a 9-1 mauling of Japan and in the process to set up an epic final showdown against Hong Kong in the World Masters Hockey (WMH) Asian Championships 2023 on Saturday.

The gutsy 50s veterans’ team will be joined in Sunday’s finals by the 40s and 60s teams also who had qualified much earlier.

The 40s team will face Hong Kong, while the 60s will go up against Japan at the Hong Kong Sports Club.

“We are excited to have met our target of all our three teams qualifying for the final,” said Dato Seri Surinder Singh Dhaliwal, the Tournament Director for Malaysia.

“There were ups and downs in some matches, but we stayed on course in our mission. The 50s team deserve every accolade. They fought back gallantly in their last two matches and surprised everyone to make it to the final. We must now maintain our momentum and work hard towards winning the championship,” added Dato Seri Surinder.

Like a twist from a Harry Potter film series, the 50s team had earlier went agonizingly close to being eliminated after basking at the bottom rung of the group standings with two consecutive defeats and a draw.

But their fortunes took a turn for the better following victories over South Korea 5-0 on Friday and now Japan to finish third in the six-team table standings, and shared eight equal points with Singapore. Hong Kong lead the table standings with 12 points.

The Singaporeans needed to beat Korea by 17 goals in their last match to deny the Malaysians of a slot in the final. They, however, miserably fell short in their mission as they won 10-2.

The match statistics showed Japan had 10 penalty corners and the Malaysians three.

Harcharanjit Sundar scored four goals to take his individual goal tally to seven while Albert Khoo, Louis Gregory, Mohd Noor Saad, R. Chandrasekar and Kulwant Singh added to the Japanese misery.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian 40s team went down 1-5 against Hong Kong in their last group match played today.

It was the first defeat by the Malaysians in four matches and go second in the table standings with nine points while Hong Kong stays on top with 12 points followed by Singapore (4), Hong Kong SoM (4) and Bangladesh (0).

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 – A goal by Dato’ Seri Surinder Singh Dhaliwal in the final moments of the fourth quarter saw the Malaysian men’s 060 team pull off a 3-2 victory over Southern Cross SoM (Spirit of Masters) in the World Masters Hockey (WMH) Asian Championships 2023 at the Hong Kong Sports Club on Friday.

It was the second time the 60s Malaysian side, captained by Inderjit Tara, defeated the Australians with back-to-back wins. They had on Thursday won 5-3.

The Malaysians topped the standings with nine points and progressed to Sunday’s final for a showdown against Japan for the gold medal.

The Japanese had stunned Hong Kong with a 4-2 victory in the elimination round encounter.

The first quarter saw Southern Cross step up the intensity and Brett Picknell scored from a field goal four minutes into the game for a 1-0 lead.

Shamsul Abdullah, however, restored parity for his side in the 14^th minute via a penalty corner conversion.

Sarjit Singh celebrated his 61^st birthday with a penalty corner conversion in the 31^st minute, extending the score to 2-1 – taking his personal goal tally to 10 in the tournament, but the Australians rallied back in the third quarter for the equalizer through Mark Brookefield’s penalty corner strike in the 50^th minute.

The fourth quarter was much more open, but the Malaysians held their nerves and won a penalty corner in the 69^th minute.

Dato Seri Surinder finished the game with a brilliant shot as he put the ball into the net.

While the 060s team went through a nail-biting finish, their 040s counterparts flayed Hong Kong SoM 8-1.

With the Malaysians and Hong Kong sharing nine equal points from three matches, Saturday’s crucial match between both teams is of academic interest only as they will square off once again in Sunday’s final.

Hairul Nizam and V. Vasandan scored a brace for the Malaysians while Keevan Raj, Iman Gobinathan, Khairuddin and Prabhu contributed apiece. Rizwan Hassan scored for Hong Kong SoM.

In another men’s 040s match, Singapore trounced Bangladesh 13-1 for their first win in four matches. The Singaporeans are third in the points standings.

As for the Malaysian men’s 050s team, call it divine intervention or Lady Luck on their side. They defeated South Korea 5-0 and with 5 points in the bag surprisingly found themselves galloping to third spot in the table standings – five behind leader Hong Kong and Switzerland SoM who have 10 points each.

Harcharanjit Sundar slammed a hat-trick (11^th, 45^th and 47^th minutes), while Mohd Noor Saad (20^th) and Sukhdev Singh (68^th) scored a piece.

The Singaporeans are in fourth spot despite sharing five equal points with Malaysia, Japan hoover further down in fifth position (3 points) and South Korea at the bottom with zero points.

A simple margin win by the Malaysians over Japan in today’s last group match will catapult the Malaysians into Sunday’s final against Hong Kong as they would then have eight points.

BATU KAWAN, 25 Nov – Kejuaraan Petronas Cub Prix Malaysia 2023 akan melabuhkan tirainya di litar Stadium Batu Kawan, Pulau Pinang Ahad ini.

Batu Kawan menjadi destinasi untuk Pusingan 10 atau pusingan penutup tirai bagi musim 2023 kejuaraan tersebut yang telah bermula di Litar Sepang Utara pada 25-26 Februari lalu.

Seperti biasa, aksi penutup musim ini memiliki daya tarik tersendiri kerana ia akan menjadi medan penentuan buat para pelumba untuk bergelar juara keseluruhan dalam kategori perlumbaan masing-masing bagi musim ini.

Begitupun, pada saingan penutup di Batu Kawan minggu ini, tumpuan sudah pasti tertumpu kepada para pelumba bagi kelas CP125 dan Wira KBS memandangkan juara keseluruhan bagi kelas CP150 sudah sah menjadi milik Md Akid Aziz dari pasukan Petronas Sprinta Yamaha-CKJ Racing.

Jumlah mata yang dipungut oleh Akid ketika ini iaitu 166, sudah tidak boleh dipintas oleh mana-mana pelumba sekalipun pelumba kelahiran Kuala Lumpur itu gagal meraih sebarang mata di Batu Kawan nanti.

Bagi kelas CP125, ia mungkin berlaku sedikit persaingan meskipun di atas kertas, pelumba pasukan Jetron Yamaha YYPang Racing team, Md Khairi Asyraf Mahmood memiliki kelebihan selepas mengumpul 154 mata. Dia kini diekori rapat oleh rakan sepasukan, Md Shafiq Ezzariq Saiful Nizam yang sudah meraih 130 mata.

Sekiranya Shafiq menang di Batu Kawan dan Asyraf gagal meraih sebarang mata, maka mahkota kejuaraan bagi kelas CP125 bakal berada dalam genggaman Shafiq.

Begitupun, Asyraf tetap memiliki kelebihan untuk bergelar juara dengan syarat dia tidak kehilangan mata.

Percaturan ini adalah berdasarkan pungutan mata terkini para pelumba selepas selesai mengharungi 9 pusingan setakat ini.

Buruan untuk gelaran juara keseluruhan bagi kategori Wira KBS pula masih terbuka dan ia pasti akan menjadi persaingan antara dua pelumba iaitu Md Farish Iqmal Khayrul Elias (Bad Lab Honda KC Racing) dan Amirun Haziq Johan dari pasukan Petronas Sprinta Yamaha-31 Racing.

Md Farish kini mendahului carta keseluruhan dengan meraih 150 mata manakala Amirun berada di kedudukan kedua dengan 141 mata.

Mata yang diberikan kepada pelumba yang muncul juara pada setiap pusingan adalah 25 diikuti 20 mata untuk tempat kedua dan 16 untuk tempat ketiga.

Di luar litar perlumbaan pula, tarikannya juga tidak kurang hebatnya. Pelbagai khemah promosi daripada rakan-rakan penaja Cub Prix terus rancak dengan aktiviti-aktiviti sampingan yang mereka sediakan buat para pengunjung.

Tumpuan sudah pastinya khemah Happy Bag Cub Prix yang menjual pelbagai cenderahati kenang-kenangan selain jualan Happy Bagi yang mengandungi baju-T edisi terhad pada harga RM65.

Happy Bag juga menawarkan cabutan bertuah yang menyaksikan sebuah motosikal Honda RS-X bakal menjadi hadiah utama.

Pusingan 10 ini akan menjadi peluang terakhir buat para pengunjung Cub Prix untuk membawa pulang sebuah motosikal Honda RSX dan kesempatan ini tidak harus dilepaskan sebelum edisi musim 2023 melabuhkan tirainya.

Dengan setiap pembelian Happy Bag berharga RM65, para peminat akan diberikan satu kupon untuk menyertai cabutan bertuah dan jika mahu mendapatkan tiga kupon, mereka hendaklah membeli sekurang-kurangnya dua Happy Bag.

Selain jualan Happy Bag, ‘Happy Hour Game’ juga bakal diadakan yang menawarkan hadiah berupa hamper dan lain-lain barangan.

Jadi, buat para pengunjung yang menyaksikan saingan Pusingan 10 Kejuaraan Petronas Cub Prix Malaysia di litar Batu Kawan hujung minggu ini, mereka tidak harus melepaskan peluang untuk menyertai cabutan bertuah menerusi pembelian Happy Bag Cub Prix.

Ada Cub Prix Ada Happy Bag!

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 – Former international Soon Mustafa Karim celebrated a hat-trick as the Malaysian Men’s 060s team endured a tough match and fought gallantly to win 5-3 against Southern Cross SoM (Spirit of Masters) in the World Masters Hockey (WMH) Asian Championships in Hong Kong on Thursday.

The Malaysians got off the block on a slow pace and by the fifth minute were a goal down after the Australians earned a penalty corner, and Alistair Hogg converted.

The match saw the Malaysians going into high intensity after this early setback and former international Soon Mustafa, a member of the 1984 Los Angeles and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, restored parity in the eighth minute via a field goal.

But Southern Cross dominance continued and shortly after Dale Rozario extended the lead to 2-1 in the 11^th minute with a field goal, leaving the Malaysians desperately in search of the equalizer.

Inderjit Tara then helped his side bounce back by scoring in the 38^th minute to level 2-2.

The Malaysians were awarded a penalty stroke in the dying moments of the third quarter and Soon Mustafa pushed his side on the front foot in the 52^nd minute for a 3-2 lead for the first time in the game, smashing the ball past goalkeeper James Boreham.

The battle, however, shifted into top gear as Philip Shaw took control and scored the all-important goal in the 58^th minute to restore parity to 3-3.

However, goals by Sarjit in the 63^rd minute via a penalty corner – his ninth goal in the tournament, and Soon Mustafa’s hat-trick two minutes later saw the World Masters Hockey 2022 Tokyo bronze medalist side register a come-from-behind 5-3 victory.

Malaysia tops the table standings on nine points – three ahead of Southern Cross followed by Hong Kong (3) and Japan (0). It was the most exciting warm-up match for the Malaysians ahead of Sunday’s final against Japan or Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the 40s team will play Hong Kong SoM on Friday, and Hong Kong the following day to wrap up their round-robin fixtures.

Although matches against Spirit of Masters teams do not earn points, a win over Hong Kong SoM will boost the Malaysians’ confidence level for the final.

The Malaysian 050s team will also go into a showdown with basement side South Korea on Friday and conclude the group stage matches against Japan on Saturday.

Victories in both matches may just turn the fortunes around for manager Thevandra Naidu’s side, barring any upsets.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 – The Malaysian veteran men’s 50s team are disappointed after being held to a 2-2 draw by Singapore in the World Masters Hockey (WMH) Asian Championships 2023 at the Hong Kong Football Club on Wednesday.

It was the second time the team played to a draw following Tuesday’s 2-2 result against Hong Kong. The men’ 50s side on Monday went down to a 1-2 defeat against Switzerland SoM (Spirit of Masters).

Unlike their 40s and 60s counterparts who have qualified for Sunday’s finals, the result is a blow to the 50s team who led 2-1 against Singapore, and now face the arduous task of qualifying for the final.

With two points in the bag from three matches – seven adrift of table leader Switzerland SoM and five points behind Hong Kong, only divine intervention can change their fortunes.

The Malaysians next play basement side South Korea on Friday and conclude the group stage matches against Japan on Saturday.

The Singaporeans took the lead in the 24th minute via Chin Hock Tan’s penalty corner conversion.

Louis Gregory, however, restored parity for the Malaysians in the 42nd minute in similar fashion, and Zulpakar Mohamad extended the lead to 2-1 via a field goal in the 64th minute.

The Singaporeans earned a penalty corner with seconds left from the hooter and P. Jeya was spot on for the equalizer.

“It was unfortunate for the 50s side who played well in the tournament to remain at the bottom half of the table standings,” said Tournament Director for Malaysia Datuk Seri Surinder Singh Dhaliwal.

“They have two more matches on hand and must win both. At best they may have a chance of playing in the playoff for the bronze medal”.

In other men’ 50s matches played on Wednesday, Hong Kong outclassed South Korea 5-0 and Switzerland SoM defeated Japan 5-0 .

Meanwhile, Malaysian team Chef de Mission Dato’ Majid Manjit Abdullah, who is also Deputy President of Sultan Ahmad Shah Malaysian Veteran Hockey Association, is delighted to see the men’s 40s and 60s teams advance to the final.

“I am delighted with the progress of our team. Although the men’s 50s team played well, they were unlucky not to win their matches. But there is still hope, though slim, of the team finishing among the top four in the standings,” added Dato’ Manjit, who is also Johor Hockey President, and Vice-President of the Asian Hockey Federation.

The 40s team will play Hong Kong SoM on Friday, and Hong Kong the following day to wrap-up their round robin fixtures. Although matches against Spirit of Masters teams do not earn points, a win over Hong Kong SoM will certainly boost the Malaysians’ confidence level ahead of the vital clash against Hong Kong.

On Wednesday, Hong Kong men’s 40s side triumphed 11-0 over Bangladesh and Hong Kong SoM drew 3-3 with Singapore. Hong Kong tops the standings with nine points after three matches and Malaysia (6 points) in second spot.

In the men’s 60s event, Sarjit Singh’s side will play Australia’s Southern Cross SoM on Thursday, a match which the Malaysians hold the advantage.

The Malaysians lead the standings on six points, and Australians second (6 points). Japan and Hong Kong are without any points after two matches.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 – Malaysia’s Men’s 60s and 40s masters’ teams produced their ‘greatest performance’ as they crushed Japan and Bangladesh respectively in the World Masters Hockey (WMH) Asian Championships 2023 at the Hong Kong Football Club on Tuesday.

Former national team skipper Sarjit Singh, who featured in the 1984 Los Angeles and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, led the 060s team to a rousing 6-1 victory over Japan – their second consecutive win after posting a 5-0 victory over Hong Kong a day earlier.

The 40s team, meanwhile, punctuated Bangladesh’s hopes with a 9-0 trouncing. They had on Monday secured a 4-0 win over Singapore.

The sun, however, did not shine on the men’s 50s side. They were held to a 2-2 draw by Hong Kong, a result that did not augur well for the Malaysians who on Monday had gone down 1-2 against Switzerland SoM.

Sarjit’s hat-trick included goals in the 8th, 15th and 68th minutes, taking his personal goal tally to eight in the tournament.  Manjinder Singh (31st, FG), Inderjit Tara (58th, FG) and Raymond Tio Marks (63rd, PC) added to Japan’s misery with a piece each.

The Malaysians dominated the game and earned 11 penalty corners while the Japanese had three opportunities. Tetsushi Takeshita scored Japan’s consolation goal in the 69th minute.

The Malaysian side and Southern Cross SoM, an Australian-based organization that promotes international hockey for masters’ players, share six-equal points after two wins each.

However, Sarjit’s team top the table standings with more goals scored (10 against 6). Japan is in third position, and Hong Kong China reeling at the bottom with no points.

Malaysia and Southern Cross SoM will go into a showdown on Thursday.

The Malaysian men’s 40s team enjoyed the early share of ball possession and kept the pressure on Bangladesh. The efforts bore fruit immediately when Hairul Nizam, Khairuddin Mohd Ghani and Iman Gobinathan scored a brace each.

Midfielders P. Prabhu, V. Vasandan and Daniel Kassim also penned their names on the scoresheet. The Malaysians will now face Hong Kong China in a crucial match on Wednesday.

Hong Kong and Malaysia share six equal points, followed by Hong Kong SoM, Bangladesh and Singapore – all of whom have yet to win a game.

In the men’s 50s match, Louis Gregory (39th) and R. Chandrasegar (49th) fired the Malaysians to a 2-0 lead. However, Hong Kong stepped up the pressure and equalized through Shafiq Mirza (59th) and Ali Asghar (65th).

The Swiss head the table standings with six points after two matches, followed by Hong Kong (4 pts), Japan (3), Singapore (3), Malaysia (1). South Korea is at the basement with no point. The Malaysians take on Singapore on Wednesday and South Korea on Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 – The Malaysian Men’s 60s veteran hockey team dazzled to a 5-0 victory over Hong Kong China in their opening match of the World Masters Hockey (WMH) Asian Championships 2023 at the Hong Kong Football Club on Monday.

Former national team captain Sarjit Singh scored all five goals – three via penalty corner conversions and two field goals.

The Malaysian team, led by Datuk Seri Surinder Singh Dhaliwal, earned five penalty corners against Hong Kong China’s one.

“We played well throughout this match and rotated all our players, giving every one the opportunity to play. Our defence was strong and both goalkeepers – Rohayuddin Abdul Rashid and Choy KA Hooi were equally outstanding,” said Sarjit.

The 60s team will play Japan on Tuesday.

The Malaysian Men’s 40s team also got off to a winning start following a 4-0 victory over Singapore. However, their 50s counterpart suffered a 1-2 defeat against Switzerland Spirit of Masters (SoM).

Singapore dominated the match, earning eight penalty corners but failed to score while the Malaysians had three penalty corners.

Vasandan scored a brace from a penalty stroke (4^th minute) and penalty corner (45^th minute) while Khairuddin Mohd Ghani (22^nd) and Mazlan Ismail (29^th) scored apiece.

“Overall, it was a good performance against a Singapore side made up of many expatriate players,” said team manager Kali Kavandan.

“Our next game is against Bangladesh on Tuesday.”

Though the 50s team defeat against Switzerland SoM was a setback for the Malaysians, all matches against Spirit of Masters teams are not awarded points.

Chandrasegar Ramasamy gave the Malaysians the lead with a third minute field goal but the Swiss rallied back to score two goals through Sacha Overhoff’s 46^th minute penalty stroke and Toni Haberthur’s field goal in the 56^th minute.

Team manager Thevandra Naidu said: “We used this game to test all the players before Tuesday’s important match against Hong Kong China. We expect a tough match against them.”

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Nov –  AIRASIA has come on board to sponsor the Sultan Ahmad Shah (SAS) Malaysian Veteran Hockey Association players who will be competing in the World Masters Hockey Asia Cup in Hong Kong from Nov 20-26.

Deputy President of Sultan Ahmad Shah Malaysian Veteran Hockey Association, Dato’ Majid Manjit Abdullah expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, the founder and Group CEO of AirAsia.

“Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has generously offered free flight tickets to the players and officials who will be participating in the WMH Asia Cup Hong Kong. We deeply appreciate this gesture and thank Tan Sri. We are thrilled and look forward to the tournament,” said Dato’ Manjit, who is also president of Johor Hockey Association and Vice-President of Asian Hockey Federation.

In the WMH Asia Cup Hong Kong, the Malaysians will compete in three categories – Men above 40s, Men above 50s and Men above 60s.

Manjit further stressed that veterans’ hockey is getting its deserving recognition in Malaysia with the invaluable support from His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah, the King of Malaysia, and YAM Tengku Arif Temenggong Tengku Fahad Mu’adzam Shah Al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Shah, President of Sultan Ahmad Shah (SAS) Malaysian Veteran Hockey Association.

The King and Queen had recently hosted a special reception for more than 120 players of the SAS Malaysian Veteran Hockey Association at Istana Negara.

At the ceremony Al-Sultan Abdullah presented plaques to 20 players aged above 60 for their success in securing a bronze medal in the Tokyo 2022 World Masters Hockey Championship.

“I am confident the teams will do their best in Hong Kong and continue the momentum,” said Manjit adding that the players are ready for the challenge ahead.

Meanwhile, rain may have pounded the Petaling Jaya Hockey Stadium in the past few days but that did not dampen the spirit of the Sultan Ahmad Shah (SAS) Malaysian Veteran Hockey Association players who were in the final phase of training for the upcoming World Masters Hockey 2023 Asia Cup in Hong Kong.

It was indeed pleasing to see the players from the ages of 40s, 50s and 60s go through their paces during training under the flood lights.

Amongst those drafted in the 60s team are two notable members of the judiciary – Federal Court Judge the Hon. Justice Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal and Court of Appeal Judge the Hon. Justice Dato’ Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Joining them in training are former national team captain Sarjit Singh, two-time Olympian Soon Mustafa Karim, Raymond Marks Tio, Zaiharin Jauhari, Inderjit Singh, Shyam Singh, Majinder Singh and Chin Sow Ten to name a few.

For the record, the veterans have made the nation proud in the Grand Master Hockey Year 2022.

The Malaysian 60s team won a bronze medal in the Master Hockey World Cup tournament in Tokyo and the 65s finished fourth in the Japanese capital city.

The 40s team, however, finished sixth in Nottingham, England while in Cape Town, South Africa the 45s came in fifth spot, 50s in sixth placing and 55s fifth position.

“We have been training vigorously for the last few months and we hope to do well in Hong Kong,” said Datuk Seri Surinder Singh, Vice President (1) of the SAS Malaysian Veteran Hockey Association and Tournament Director for Malaysia to the WMH  2023 Asia Cup in Hong Kong.

“Most of our players come from all over the country including the east coast states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. They were selected after a series of trials. Our training sessions has been consistent the last three months with the players showing high-level of commitment and discipline. Except on certain days when some players are unable to attend trainings due to work or family commitments, attendance has been satisfactory,” said Datuk Seri Surinder.

“We are all self-sponsored. We have to fork out our own money to book the hockey pitches for training. In this context we appreciate help from sponsors. With adequate funds we can source for better training facilities and equipment… or even invite more skillful players into the team who lack the financial resources. Everyone involved here is playing for the love of the game,” he added.

The increasing number of age groups teams, both men and women, in the World Masters Hockey tournaments, said Datuk Seri Surinder, augurs well in the promotion of veterans’ hockey.

“In the Masters World Cup, we play against teams from Australia, Canada, Wales, England, Ireland, South Africa, USA, including Asian teams Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and Singapore to name a few. In the last two years when the WMH World Cup was held in Cape Town, South Africa, there were 124 teams that competed (men and women),” he said, while 12 countries involving 27 teams competed in the 2022 WMH World Cup in Japan.

“It is a very big affair and it is not easy to run this tournament. WMH is doing a good job,” said Datuk Seri Surinder.

Next year the Malaysians will compete in the World Masters Hockey World Cup from Nov 7-16 in Auckland, New Zealand.

KUANTAN, 6 Nov – Persatuan Kanu Malaysia (Masca) menyambut baik hasrat kerajaan negeri Pahang yang telah menyatakan minat untuk menjadi tuan rumah Siri Piala Dunia tahun depan.

Presiden Masca, Raja Shahrul Azremel Raja Sahar berkata, pihaknya berbesar hati jika kerajaan Pahang mahu bekerjasama dengan badan induk kanu negara itu dalam menganjurkan kejohanan tersebut.

“Sudah tentu ia satu perkhabaran yang baik buat sukan kanu di Malaysia apabila kerajaan Pahang bersedia untuk menganjurkan kejohanan bertaraf antarabangsa seperti Siri Piala Dunia ini.

“Bagi pihak Masca, saya boleh katakan kami tidak ada sebarang masalah, malah bersedia untuk bekerjasama. Ini merupakan satu petanda positif buat sukan kanu Malaysia untuk terus berkembang,” katanya.

Terdahulu, Pengurus Besar Tourism Pahang, Kamaruddin Ibrahim berkata, kerajaan Pahang bersedia menjadi tuan rumah Siri Piala Dunia tahun depan jika mendapat tawaran daripada ICF.

Mengulas lanjut, Raja Shahrul Azremel memberitahu, Masca akan sentiasa berhubung dengan ICF dalam usaha merealisasikan hasrat Pahang menjadi salah satu venue penganjuran Siri Piala Dunia.

“Untuk makluman, bagi menganjurkan Siri Piala Dunia, kita tidak perlu membuat bidaan seperti mana Kejohanan Kanu Dunia. Cuma kita perlu mendapatkan ‘lampu hijau’ daripada ICF sahaja.

“Jadi untuk menjadi tuan rumah Siri Piala Dunia, persetujuan atau recommendation ICF amat penting. Saya percaya kita mampu menganjurkan Siri Piala Dunia jika mendapat tawaran daripada ICF,” jelasnya.

Mengulas mengenai edisi kedua Pahang Ocean Paddle International Challenge (POPIC) 2023 yang telah melabuhkan tirai pada Ahad, Raja Shahrul Azremel berkata, ia sesuatu yang positif khususnya buat barisan atlet negara.

“Sebagai contoh, Khairul Naim (Zainal) dan Montoya (Raw) antara yang menyerlah. Dengan penyertaan pada kejohanan kali, saya harap mereka dapat belajar sesuatu apabila bertanding dengan atlet luar negara.

“Saya melihat POPIC ini juga sebagai satu medan pembelajaran terbaik buat atlet negara. Malah, kita juga dapat mencungkil bakat-bakat baharu dengan penyertaan peserta dalam kategori Inter Varsiti,” ujarnya.

Memasuki edisi kedua, POPIC 2023 melibatkan tiga peringkat perlumbaan dengan jarak 48.5 kilometer (km) bermula di Pantai Rantau Panjang, Rompin, diikuti Pantai Lagenda, Pekan dan berakhir di Teluk Chempedak, Kuantan.

Bertemakan Whack The Wave dengan ganjaran wang tunai keseluruhan RM117,000, POPIC 2023 mempertandingkan enam kategori utama – Terbuka Antarabangsa SS1 (lelaki dan wanita); Terbuka Malaysia TK2 (lelaki dan wanita) dan Inter Varsiti (lelaki dan wanita).

POPIC 2023 dianjurkan kerajaan Pahang dengan kerjasama Tourism Pahang dan disokong pelbagai agensi kerajaan selain mendapat sokongan penuh Masca dan Persatuan Sukan Kanu Pahang (PSKP).