Farah is the Best Goalkeeper

KUALA LUMPUR: The national women's hockey squad finished fourth with Faru Ayuni Yahya crowned Asia Champions Trophy Champion (ACT) Best Goal in Donghae, South Korea on Sunday.

The award was the second consecutive for him when he was crowned the best Goalkeeper at ACT Singapore two years ago at the time Malaysia ended the final position between five participating teams.

The player, who is also the policeman, played a key role in the rise of the women's hockey squad and became the focus of a 2-1 victory over the top-ranked Italian team in the shoot-out penalties following Ireland qualifying for the World Hockey League Semifinal while playing in the Second Round of the World Hockey League in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia then tied Italy 2-2 and Farah's victory saved a shoot-out penalty meaningful enough to bring the country for the first time to the World Hockey League Semifinal stage.

The country's squad coach, Dhaarma Raj Abdullah, is expected to once again bet Farah to control the national goalkeeper in the Asian Games this August.

"He has always been a major asset of the country in every tournament because it saves goals and gives motivation to the whole team. At the Asian Games in Jakarta we still need his services to create a surprise to beat the top-ranked team.

"Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) has set a bronze medal target in Jakarta and I'm confident the players can do it. We will try to grab the opportunity and will try to earn a medal," he said.

The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has yet to announce the schedule but 10 teams will be divided into two groups at the Asian Games.

10 teams in action comprised Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, China, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Kazahkstan.

On paper Malaysia did not have a problem when it came down against Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Kazakhstan based on performances at ACT where they defeated Japan 3-2, lost to China (1-3), South Korea (1-3) and India 3-2) in the group stage action.

In the bronze medal match China only managed to win 2-0.