BHUBANESWAR: Malaysia have moved up to World No 9 after beating New Zealand 3-2 in hockey's World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India, on Thursday.
Collecting ranking points is one of the Speedy Tigers' missions in this World Cup as it will decide the grouping pattern for the Hangzhou Asian Games later this year.
And Malaysia aim to win the Asian Games gold and qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics after missing the Greatest Show on Earth for the past 22 years.
"By winning two matches (3-2 against both Chile and New Zealand), we have not only edged closer to the quarter-finals, but also moved to No 9 in the world.
"Ranking is very important for Malaysia to be placed in a different group, say with India and South Korea, in the Asian Games. This is to avoid an early clash and only face them in the knockout stages.
"Right now, India are the highest ranked Asian team at number six while South Korea are No 10. All this will change at the end of the World Cup, and that's why it's important for Malaysia to beat Spain and move into the quarter-finals," said Arul.
Malaysia's best ever world ranking was No 4 after the 1975 Kuala Lumpur World Cup. It was No 8 when Malaysia hosted the World Cup again in 2002.
In Bhubaneswar, the Speedy Tigers lost 4-0 to the Netherlands before bouncing back with back-to-back wins against Chile and New Zealand. World No 8 Spain are next on the menu.