KUALA LUMPUR: Media Prima radio stations Kool 101 and Hot FM were the latest to join hands with Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to promote the Kuala Lumpur Junior World Cup which will be held at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Dec 5-16.
With just over a month left to the JWC, both the stations will rally its listeners to watch matches at the National Stadium.
"We will host contests which will offer winners a chance to sit with VIPs and watch the JWC at the National Stadium.
"Our radio stations will also encourage people to turn up at the stadium, as JWC will showcase the best budding talents in the world," said Media Prima Audio CEO Nazri Noran.
Hot FM has recorded a total of 3.8 million weekly listeners to become the No 1 radio station in the country, states a July report.
The Malaysian juniors will first be tested at the Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) starting on Friday at the Taman Daya Stadium.
Seven out of eight teams playing in the SoJC have also qualified for the JWC and they are Malaysia, India, Pakistan and New Zealand in Group B.
While in Group A the three JWC teams are Australia, Germany and South Africa while Britain are the only team which did not make the cut.
"The SoJC has been rightly timed to challenge our players about 45 days to the JWC and for that MHC thank the Johor HA.
"Malaysia will be tested to the limit by all seven teams and hopefully our boys learns from SoJC to break free from Group A and qualify for the quarter-finals," said MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.
Malaysia are in Group A of the JWC with defending champions Argentina, powerhouse Australia and South American terrors Chile.
The Malaysian juniors will travel to Johor on Wednesday, and 20 players have been selected. Among them is 16-year-old Eswaran George from Penang, who impressed the selectors with his sharp display in the recent Junior Hockey League.
If Eswaran is retained among the 18 players registered for the SoJC, it will be a big break for the youth who will play his first international tournament.
But penalty corner flicker and defender T. Perabu who scored many goals in the Junior Asia Cup will not play in the SoJC as well as the JWC, as he has put in a letter withdrawing from the national juniors stating personal reasons.
Adam Ashraf Johari, 16 and played in the recent Sea Games, is also listed among the 20 probables.
Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi is the most experienced hand for Malaysia, as he played in the Bhubaneswar-Rourkela World Cup and was also in the 2022 SoJC squad.