Asia Cup 2025: Injury-Hit Speedy Tigers Still 20 Pct Short On Fitness - Sarjit

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- The fitness level of the national hockey squad is currently at 80 percent to face the 2025 Asia Cup in Bihar, India, scheduled from Aug 29 to Sept 7.

Head coach Sarjit Singh said the players' fitness aspect, which will be decisive in the competition, has shown positive improvement after conducting intensive training for almost seven weeks at the National Sports Institute (NSI).

"I mean fitness we have done with the NSI routine. The chamber run (drill for explosive bursts) was good for about six to seven weeks. So we are prepared. But other teams also are well prepared too. As we know South Korea, China and Japan have fitness levels that are really different. But we are getting there.

"(This is) Because after the Nations Cup (in June), we had a few injuries. So we need to recover from that as well. hence, we are moving slowly in the right direction,” he said at a press conference announcing the squad for the 2025 Asian Cup here today.

Malaysia are drawn in Group B, along with South Korea, Bangladesh and Taiwan for the competition in India.

According to Sarjit, the national squad will depart for India this Friday to play two friendly matches against the host country and China before opening the tournament campaign.

The Speedy Tigers finished as runners-up in the 2022 edition and are looking to chase a slot for the 2026 World Cup on condition that they emerge as champions of the 2025 Asian Cup.

He said that apart from the hunt for the crown, the tournament is also a platform to ensure Malaysia remain the number two team in Asia in terms of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings.

-- BERNAMA