KUALA LUMPUR: Coach K. Dharmaraj's women are going places, with Scotland, Italy and Germany first, and many more destinations planned after the Jakarta Asian Games.
The women are finally getting due recognition and will head to Europe not on attachments, but selected based on merit to further their hockey careers with top clubs there.
Raja Sharina, Surizan Awang and Haslinda Said will play in Glasgow, Hanis Nadia Onn and Wan Norfaizah Sayuti in Germany while Nuraini Rashid and Fatin Shafika Sukri will head for Italy.
An elated coach Dharmaraj said: "All these players have received approval from the MHC (Malaysian Hockey Confederation) to play overseas because after the Asian Games, there are no more tournaments for them, except for a friendly.
"I also have plans to send at least 10 more players to clubs overseas and when they return with the experience gained, we will be able to see better progress in the women's section."
The only programme this year is against a visiting Canada side, who will arrive in December.
"The younger ones in my team have school and other activities, so they will sit out this year's overseas plans, but we will look for other suitable times to send them as well.
"I have coached the men's team before and comparatively, the women are much more excited and committed to play with overseas clubs. It has been very easy to convince them to ply their trade in Europe to gain experience," said Dharmaraj.
In the Asian Games, the Malaysian women are in Group A with China, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Dharmaraj believes they have a good chance of advancing to the semi-finals, as their recent playing record with Japan and China has been encouraging.
In the last three encounters with Japan, Malaysia won two, and the margin of defeat against China has been narrowed down as well.
KW: women’s hockey, K. Dharmaraj, Asian Games