KUALA LUMPUR – Kim Sang-ryul has firmly said that the fitness and physical programmes he plans to implement for the Speedy Tigers are designed to reshape the team, transforming them from mere sprinters into well-rounded hockey players.
It is understood that national hockey head coach Sarjit Singh approached the 69-year-old Sang-ryul, regarded as one of the best coaches in the world, for assistance in conducting the team’s fitness and physical programmes in the coming months.
The decision to heavily prioritise the programme stems from Sarjit’s team’s poor performance in a series of tournaments – the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, the Nations Cup, and the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) – since his appointment in March this year.
With the lack of physical strength contributing to the national team’s underperformance, they finished fourth at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in May and seventh at the Nations Cup in June.
The problem was further highlighted in July when Malaysia were hammered 10-1 in a friendly match against Germany and the situation reached a new low when Malaysia finished last in the six-team ACT tournament.
Speaking to Scoop from Liaoning province in China, Sang-ryul, who played a pivotal role in leading the Chinese women’s team to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, said the programme he will be introducing can change the identity of the national team in the long run.
“The programme that I will introduce to Sarjit’s team is going to be really intense and is very similar to what I have done in both South Korea and now in China. The programme will involve a lot of elements of sports science, and I hope the Malaysian players can adapt to it.
“I’m not going to follow what is being done in Europe. I will design the programme based on what the players can or cannot do. I have observed that Malaysian players are good at sprinting, which is a significant advantage they possess.
“But the game is more than that – it’s not merely about sprinting, it’s about playing hockey. The current Malaysian players look more like sprinters than hockey players, and I’m planning to enhance their physiques through my programme.
“I have seen success with this programme with my players before, and I’m confident I can achieve the same with the Malaysian players if they are ready to elevate their game and standards,” said Sang-ryul when contacted.
At the same time, Sang-ryul emphasised that investments are needed to purchase sports science equipment, along with frequent monitoring, for the programme to be effective.
“In order for the programme to be effective, investments are needed to acquire certain equipment, such as sports performance trackers, so the coaches can monitor their players better.
“Monitoring needs to be done every four to six weeks, and the programme shouldn’t just be carried out for a few months. I can do my best to help, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the coaches and players to follow it or not,” Sang-ryul added.
Malaysia are currently ranked number 13 in the world, with 1,983.11 points. – October 7,2024