Malaysia Tuan Rumah Piala Dunia Belia Hoki 1982

Pasukan hoki belia Malaysia dikatakan berada tahap prestasi yang tinggi apabila menghampiri kejohanan Piala Dunia pada bulan Ogos 1982. Setelah menduduki tempat keempat pada tahun 1979 dan kini menjadi tuan rumah bagi edisi kedua kejohanan, pasukan belia Malaysia menjadi harapan serta mendapat sokongan tinggi daripada peminat tanah air. 

Piala Dunia Belia Hoki 1982 diadakan di Stadium Hoki Tun Razak yang telah dibina khusus bagi kejohanan tersebut dan dilengkapi dengan padang astroturf. Malaysia diletakkan dalam Kumpulan A bersama Sepanyol, Belanda, New Zealand, dan juara bertahan, Pakistan. Manakala dalam Kumpulan B ialah Jerman Barat, Australia, India, Kanada, Kenya dan Singapura.

Malaysia bertemu Sepanyol dalam perlawanan pertama mereka. Pada edisi sulung, Sepanyol menduduki tempat ke-9. Malaysia sepertinya akan mencatat kemenangan mudah setelah  mendahului 2-0 pada separuh masa pertama menerusi jaringan daripada Michael Chew (penalti) dan Chai Seng Yu. Walau bagaimanapun  Sepanyol berjaya menjaringkan gol melalui Escude Jaime sebelum satu lagi gol daripada Seng Yu melebarkan jaringan, Sepanyol membalas serangan dengan dua gol pukulan sudut penalti hasil kapten pasukan, Alberto de Frutos. Namun, pada minit ke-60, G. Sinnappah berjaya memberi Malaysia gol kemenangan mereka. Malaysia menang 4–3. 

Situasi berubah apabila Malaysia kalah di tangan Belanda 3–4 pada perlawanan berikutnya. Gol Malaysia sekali lagi dijaringkan oleh Chai Seng Yu (2) dan Michael Chew. Keputusan yang tidak memihak ini membawa pasukan berada dalam tekanan untuk mengejutkan Pakistan atau memperoleh perbezaan gol yang tinggi.

Malaysia mendapat nafas baharu setelah menewaskan New Zealand 5–1 pada perlawanan ketiga. K. Ravindran menjaringkan gol pertama pada minit ke-21. Gol penyamaan New Zealand dijaringkan empat minit kemudian tetapi dua minit selepas itu, M. Selvanathan berjaya meningkatkan harapan pasukan apabila beliau berlumba dari tengah padang untuk memberikan Malaysia satu lagi gol. Pada separuh masa kedua, tiga gol tambahan dijaringkan oleh Selvanathan, Michael Chew dan G. Sinnappah. 

Pasukan belia negara tentunya membawa keyakinan tersebut ke perlawanan kumpulan terakhir menentang juara bertahan, Pakistan. Kapten pasukan Sarjit Singh dinobatkan pemain terbaik setelah mempamerkan gerakan dan hantaran strategik yang membantu menghasilkan gol. Malaysia mendapat gol pertama menerusi Soon Mustafa pada minit ke-23 sebelum Pakistan menyamakan kedudukan empat minit kemudian dengan pukulan sudut penalti. Seng Yu berjaya menjaringkan gol kedua Malaysia tetapi Pakistan tetap membalas lagi. Keputusan akhir 2–2 membawa kedua-dua pasukan ke peringkat separuh akhir. 

Menanti Malaysia di separuh akhir ialah pasukan Jerman Barat yang mengejutkan semua dengan jaringan gol awal pada minit kedua dan ketiga. Malaysia berjaya menghasilkan dua gol melalui Seng Yu tetapi usaha mereka tidak cukup untuk menyekat Jerman Barat yang memenangi perlawanan 4–2. Pada perlawanan tempat ketiga menentang Pakistan, prestasi Malaysia jauh berbanding dengan pertemuan pertama mereka dan pasukan lawan berjaya menang 10–0.

Malaysia: Mohamed Fadzil, Jailani Talib, Sarjit Singh, Jagjit Singh, Soon Mustafa, M. Selvanathan, Chai Seng Yu, K. Ravindran, Syed Roslan, Michael Chew, Amir Fuad, K. Prabhakaran

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The Malaysian Junior Hockey Team was said to be in top form as the World Cup approached in August 1982. After placing fourth in the 1979 edition and now hosts of the second tournament, expectations were high for the national team. Support from home fans were also at an all time high. 

The 1982 Junior Hockey World Cup was held at the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium, a brand new astroturfed venue built to accommodate the event. Malaysia was placed in Pool A with Spain, Netherlands, New Zealand, and defending champions, Pakistan. Meanwhile in Pool B were West Germany, Australia, India, Canada, Kenya and Singapore. 

Malaysia’s first match was against Spain, who placed ninth in the first edition. Malaysia appeared to be going for an easy victory with an early 2-0 lead in the first half through goals from Michael Chew (penalty) and Chai Seng Yu. Spain then managed to produce a goal before the interval though Escude Jaime. After another goal from Seng Yu, Spain declared they were not ready to concede as captain Alberto de Frutos delivered two penalty corner shots. However, in the 60th minute, G. Sinnappah gave Malaysia their winning goal, making the final score 4–3. 

The tables turned when they met the Netherlands in their next match. Malaysia suffered their first loss as Netherlands defeated them 3–4. Malaysia’s goals were once again scored by Chai Seng Yu (2) and Michael Chew. This was a less favourable outcome as the pressure is now on to either upset Pakistan or acquire a significant goal difference on average.

Things were looking up as Malaysia went to trounce New Zealand 5–1. K. Ravindran gave them the first goal in the 21st minute when the New Zealand goalkeeper slipped from his post. The equaliser was scored four minutes later and two minutes after that, M. Selvanathan gave Malaysians hope as he raced down from midfield to land a goal. In the second half, three additional goals were produced by Selvanathan, Michael Chew and G. Sinnappah.

The national youth team brought that confidence to their last group match against defending champions Pakistan. Team captain Sarjit Singh was said to be man of the match for his strategic moves and passes that led to goals. Malaysia scored first through Soon Mustafa in the 23rd minute before Pakistan equalised four minutes later with a penalty corner shot. Seng Yu managed to score Malaysia’s second goal but Pakistan retaliated yet again. The final score of 2–2 meant that both teams secured a place in the semi-finals. 

Awaiting them at the semi-finals were West Germany, who stunned the team and spectators by scoring in the second and third minute. Malaysia managed to produce two goals through Seng Yu but it was not enough as West Germany won the match 4–2. There was still a chance to claim third place but Malaysia suffered a tremendous loss against Pakistan, far from their performance earlier in the tournament, as their rivals won 10–0. 

Malaysia: Mohamed Fadzil, Jailani Talib, Sarjit Singh, Jagjit Singh, Soon Mustafa, M. Selvanathan, Chai Seng Yu, K. Ravindran, Syed Roslan, Michael Chew, Amir Fuad, K. Prabhakaran