KUALA LUMPUR: The Young Tigers will tread with caution against "unknown" China in their opening Group B match of the Junior Asia Cup (JAC) at the Hockey Oman Stadium in Muscat, tomorrow.
China last featured in the Under-21 Asian event in Kuantan in 2015, where they lost twice to Young Tigers, 4-0 in a group match and 5-1 in the fifth to eighth placing playoffs.
The other teams in Malaysia's group in Muscat are Pakistan, Oman and Bangladesh.
Malaysia are ranked 11th in the world at junior level while China are 48th.
Coach I. Vickneswaran has warned his boys not to underestimate the Chinese team.
"The Chinese team are known for their fitness and they play a very hard game. We have to be cautious against them.
"They are trained by South Korean coach, Min Tae Seok, who led the China senior team to second place in the Asian Champions Trophy (in Inner Mongolia in September).
"We hope to start on a good note to boost our chances of finishing top four in the tournament," said Vickneswaran.
Young Tigers aim to score more penalty corner goals, having trained under the "King of drag flicks" Sohail Abbas.
Young Tigers' main challenge in their group will be against world No. 9 Pakistan.
Defending champions and world No. 2 India are in Group A with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Rafaizul Saini, Danish Afnan Faizal, Haziq Muizzuddin Hairul Mizan.
Defenders: Andywalfian Jeffrynus, Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin, Aqil Danial Mat Ruslee, Disairul Fazrien Nazrien, Nabil Irfan Yusof.
Midfielders: Khairul Noriza, Danish Danial Abdul Wahab, Adam Ashraf Johari, Handzalah Abdul Hadi, Aiman Safwan Hisham.
Forwards: Danish Aiman Khairil Anuar, Che Nur Aqilrullah Che Mohd Khairulzi Anwar, Harris Iskandar Osman, Khairil Hakimi Zainol, Yadiy Mohamad Saifuddin, T. Naaveennash Panicker