KUALA LUMPUR – Former national hockey player and coach, Gurmit Singh is the latest Malaysian to ply his trade overseas after receiving an offer from the Hong Kong Hockey Association (HKHA).
The 60-year-old has been appointed as the senior and junior national team’s head coach, as well as HKHA development officer with a six-month contract beginning May 1.
Gurmit, who served as assistant to Sarjit Singh in the Malaysian national team between 2006-2009, hopes to strike a long-term deal by proving his capabilities during his probation period, especially in developing the juniors.
“My mission is to raise the level of hockey in Hong Kong, and help them qualify for the next Asian Cup and 2028 Asian Games in Japan.
“Hong Kong has many good players, it’s just skills and tactics where they are missing out,” he said when contacted.
Gurmit, who has coaching experience for both junior and senior teams at various levels, initially went to Hong Kong to visit his son, before being approached to coach a local Sikh club known as KNS competing in the Premier division early this year.
He said the way he improved the club impressed HKHA enough to rope him in and prepare Hong Kong as a replacement team for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
“Earlier, one of the teams wanted to withdraw, so Hong Kong, which was on the reserve list, was preparing to be a replacement.
“But since the team is not pulling out now, we will be waiting for the Junior Asian Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers.
“For this year, we might compete in a few invitational tournaments.
“My plan is to scout young players aged 12-17, develop them and promote them into the senior team, a solid foundation for the future,” he added.
Gurmit said though Hong Kong has yet to become the hockey powerhouse in the region, participation in the domestic league is huge, comprising seven divisions, bigger than the Malaysian Hockey League.
He also advised the national players to continue serving the sport either as a coach or as officials post-retirement.
Among the former national players coaching abroad are Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah and K. Gobinathan, both in Indonesia, and Lim Chiow Chuan (Oman). – Bernama, June 28, 2023
