AFTER achieving a top-10 world ranking last year, the Speedy Tigers have now dropped a rung to 11th.
But the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are unperturbed by it as they are confident the national team will be top 10 again soon.
The margin between the world No 10 and 11 is only 107 points, and Malaysia have a chance to regain their ranking when they play in the Asia Cup and the Hangzhou Asian Games.
"We ended the 2021 season by finishing 10th in the world. However, we dropped a rung recently as other teams have started playing in tournaments this year.
"Malaysia are 11th with 1,218 points behind world No 10 Canada on 1,325.
"I believe that by playing in both tournaments, it should take us back to 10th, and even a possible ninth," said MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal (pic).
New Zealand are ranked ninth in the world with 1,459 points.
The men's Asia Cup, a World Cup qualifier, is tentatively in May this year while the Asian Games is scheduled for Sept 10-25.
Malaysia have to do well in both tournaments for world ranking points and medals.
"Malaysia need to qualify for the Asia Cup semi-finals to qualify for the World Cup.
"We will play against the same teams again at the Asian Games," Subahan added.
In the 2017 Asia Cup in Bangladesh, the Speedy Tigers were edged 2-1 by India in the final.
A year later, Malaysia lost to Japan via penalty shootout in the final of the Indonesia Asian Games.