KUALA LUMPUR: The national underwater hockey team hope to learn from the best in their first-ever World Youth Championships outing.
The championships, comprising four categories (men's and women's Under-24 and Under-19 events), start on Saturday and end on July 27.
National coach Teah Jian Zhuan said: "We are a new team, and the objective is to do our best and learn as much as possible from other nations during the World Youth Championships.
"Hopefully, we can apply what we learn at the Asia Cup in Singapore in August. Those who shine will be selected for the Singapore assignment.
"The long-term goal is to have a solid team for the 2027 KL Sea Games," said the 29-year-old at the launch of the World Championships at Kuala Lumpur Sports Arena in Setapak on Friday.
The other teams in action are Australia, Colombia, France, Britain, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.
Underwater hockey, or 'Octopush,' started in the 1950s. It was invented by the British Navy to keep their divers fit.