Champions Sabah Withdraw From Tun Abdul Razak Cup

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Reigning women's champions Sabah have withdrawn from the 2024 Tun Abdul Razak Cup Hockey Championship, which will be held at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bahru, from Oct 2 to 12.

Malaysian Hockey Confederation Competitions Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Anil Jeet Singh said Sabah are pulling out due to financial constraints.

He said the national junior squad, Young Tigress, will replace Sabah in the tournament and use it as part of their preparation for the women's Junior Asia Cup, which will be held in Muscat, Oman, from Nov 11 to 19.

“As we all know, compared to other teams, Sabah and Sarawak need more funds to send teams to the tournament.

“Sabah lack allocations and can afford to send only one team,” he told a press conference here today.

Anil, who is also Sabah Hockey president, said Sabah would send a men's team and he is confident that they can do well.

“Sabah have won the men's title before, and I hope they can enter the semi-finals this time,” he added.

A total of 14 men's teams and 11 women's teams will participate in the championship.

In the men's category, defending champions Kuala Lumpur have been drawn into Group A with Pahang, Johor, Selangor, Penang, Perlis and Singapore.

Group B has last year's runners-up Melaka, Perak, PDRM, ATM, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah. 

In the women's competition, last year's beaten finalists Selangor are in Group A with Penang, Pahang, Perak and Johor while Melaka, KL, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, ATM and Young Tigress are in Group B. 

-- BERNAMA