KUALA LUMPUR: Three national hockey players are fighting against time to recover for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4-11.
They are defender Arif Syafie Ishak (ankle injury) and midfielders Mughni Kamal and T. Naaveennash Panicker ( hamstring injuries).
The national team will resume training tomorrow after an eight-day break for Hari Raya.
Arif, Mughni and Naaveennash have been undergoing rehabilitation. They are among 30 players selected for centralised training for three tournaments this year: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Nations Cup in in Gniezno, Poland (May 31-June 9) and Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia (Sept 8-17).
Penalty corner drag flicker Faizal Saari and his younger brother, Fitri, who are currently playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Bangladesh League, will join national training next week.
Coach Sarjit Singh will name his final squad of 18 players after a friendly match against world No. 10 New Zealand in Ipoh on May 1. Malaysia are world No. 13.