Kumar's return strengthens squad ahead of European Tour

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- After about five months out due to injury, experienced goalkeeper S. Kumar is back in the squad for the European Tour which begins July 25.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper’s return is expected to have a positive impact on Roelant Oltmans's side in the tour, which comes ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games qualifying playoff scheduled in November.

Kumar had suffered a torn thigh muscle during the Malaysia Hockey League in February, which saw him miss the FIH Series Finals here last month.

Meanwhile, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) goalkeeper Adrian Andy Albert and Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB) young striker Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosdi were two new additions in the 20-man squad for the European Tour.

Muhammad Noor Firdaus was part of the youth squad that won the gold medal at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal when announcing the full list of players said the national team was scheduled to leave for Europe on July 21, and would be facing Germany, Spain, England, Ireland and Belgium.

List of players selected for European Tour:

Goalkeeper: S. Kumar, Adrian Andy Albert

Defenders: Mohamad Sukri Abdul Mutalib, Faiz Helmi Jali, Muhammad Najib Abu Hassan, Syed Mohammad Syafiq Syed Cholan, Muhammad Razie Abd Rahim, Muhammad Arif Syafie Isyak

Midfielders: Joel Samuel Van Huizen, Muhammad Marhan Mohd Jalil, Nik Muhammad Aiman Nik Rozemi, Meor Muhamad Azuan Hasan, Mohd Fitri Saari, Muhammad Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal

Strikers: Faizal Saari, Norshafiq Sumantri, Muhammad Shahril Saabah, Mohamad Akhimullah Anuar Esook, Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosdi, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil.

-- BERNAMA