KUALA LUMPUR: Sarjit Singh is expected to be the new head coach of the national men's hockey team.
Sarjit, who is currently the coach of the Johor state team, helmed the national side from January 2007 to December 2008.
The former international also coached the national junior team from 2004 to 2006.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) will announce the head coach after their executive board meeting on March 3.
With his likely appointment, Sarjit's main target will be the 2026 Asian Games gold in Aichi-Nagoya, which will qualify Malaysia for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
MHC Coaching Committee chairman Datuk Majid Manjit Abdullah said four shortlisted candidates were interviewed, and the name of the new head coach has been given to the executive board.
He said MHC president Datuk Subahan Kamal will announce the new head coach after the executive board meeting this Sunday,
A total of 23 coaches - five locals and 18 foreigners - applied for the job. And the 11-member MHC Coaching Committee shortlisted four candidates for interviews.
The four were Sarjit and former national coach K. Dharmaraj, Glenn Turner of Australia and Brendon Caralon of South Africa. Both the foreigners were assistants to former national coach A. Arul Selvaraj.
The new head coach will replace Arul whose contract ended after the Olympic Qualifier in Muscat, Oman last month.
Malaysia have failed to qualify for the Olympics since 2000, after finishing a disappointing fifth in Muscat.
The Speedy Tigers have three competitions this year: the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh (May 4-11), Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland (May 31- June 9) and Asian Champions Trophy, Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia (from Sept 8-17).