KUCHING: Sarawak’s women’s hockey team bowed out of the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) after a 0-3 defeat to Negeri Sembilan in their Group A preliminary match today (Aug 20).
Head coach Linda Liwek Laing admitted that her team, while united in their effort, lacked the fundamental skills to compete at this level.
“Fifteen of these players are new to the game, so we have a long way to go,” she told reporters after the match ended at Petra Jaya Hockey Stadium.
Linda explained that the team’s physical condition also hindered their performance.
“They gave their all, but their recovery might not have been sufficient to score,” she added.
Captain Nurul Ai’n Abdullah attributed the team’s struggles to inconsistent training and injuries.
“We didn’t train together as much as we wanted, and that affected our basic skills. Several players also suffered injuries during the tournament,” she said.
Sarawak will play Sabah on Thursday to determine their final placing in the competition.
