Speedy Tigers Bank RM160,000 for Asian Games Silver as Malaysia’s Big Month Rolls On
Silver medals don’t pay the bills, but in Malaysia they do come with a decent thank you. Last month, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation handed the Speedy Tigers RM160,000 in incentives for their silver medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The money was shared among 20 players and eight team officials at a celebratory dinner, with MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal crediting the squad’s commitment, discipline and hard work. It was Malaysia’s third Asian Games silver medal, earned after a run to the final that ended in a 5-1 defeat to defending champions India at Gifu on 3 October.
That final loss still stings, no doubt, but the reward tells you how Malaysia view this team. This isn’t a side being patted on the head for turning up. It’s a squad the federation clearly believes is building towards something bigger, and the timing of the reward said plenty about what comes next.
From silver to a very busy November
Because Malaysia haven’t had time to dwell on it. The Speedy Tigers went straight from the Asian Games into the Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab, where they’ve already booked a semi-final spot with three wins from their first four games, and then it’s home to Ipoh for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup from 20 to 28 November.
That’s a brutal month, and it’s also a huge opportunity. The Champions Trophy semi-finals are on Wednesday in Mohali, with the final on Thursday, and then the Azlan Shah Cup brings Australia, Pakistan, Canada, Korea and the United States to Malaysia’s own backyard. For a team that just banked a silver medal and a cash reward, the message is clear: the next medal has to be gold.
For our money, Malaysia’s form in Punjab suggests they’re not far off. They pushed India hard before losing 4-2 on Sunday, and with Harmanpreet Singh’s India the only unbeaten side left, Malaysia look like the most likely team to stop them. The RM160,000 was for the past. The next fortnight decides whether this squad is remembered for silver, or for something better.
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