Rahim & Co. focus on ACT and Asian Games.
While Rahim and Company are getting ready for the ACT, they also have one eye on the Asian Games. On Thursday, Rahim and his colleagues will begin making the preparations that they are hoping will bear fruit during the Asian Games.
CHENNAI: One of the most familiar sights while watching the Malaysian hockey team is the evergreen Razie Rahim standing on top of the D, waiting to drag-flick the ball goalwards. The 35-year-old has been doing it for more than 15 years. With 300 caps under his belt, he’s the side’s elder statesman and an automatic part of the leadership group.
On Thursday, Rahim & Co. will start putting in place preparations they hope will bear fruit at the Asian Games. For a while the Asian Champions Trophy is a tune-up event, the Asian Games doubles up as an Olympic qualifier. It’s no surprise that his face lights up when he speaks about the upcoming Games in Hangzhou. “It’s a very important event for us,” he says. When you have been playing for the national team since at least 2006, you may think about winding down your career, thinking about retirement. Razie, though, hasn’t even thought about hanging up his sticks. “My dream, I still haven’t achieved it,” he says as another sticky late Chennai summer day winds down. “It’s to play at the Olympics, that’s my passion. That will be the drive for a lot of sportspersons and I’m no different.” The last time the men’s side featured at the Olympics, the year was 2000 and Rahim was still playing age-group hockey.
Between then and now, Rahim reckons the main changes in the team have been harmony, fitness and tactics. When asked to elaborate on tactics, the defender is of the opinion that they have worked on new tactics keeping in mind the Asian Games. If he’s selected, it will be the fifth Asian Games. “The reason (for my longevity) is my discipline and fitness,” he says.
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