Kuala lumpur: The fitness level of the national hockey squad is currently at 80 percent to face the 2025 Asia Cup in Bihar, India, scheduled from Aug 29 to Sept 7. Head coach Sarjit Singh said the players' fitness aspect, which will be decisive in the competition, has shown positive improvement after conducting intensive training for almost seven weeks at the National Sports Institute (NSI).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sarjit emphasized the progression in fitness routines, stating that the "chamber run" drill for explosive bursts was effectively executed, preparing the team well. He acknowledged that while they are better prepared, other teams like South Korea, China, and Japan also have significantly different fitness levels. He noted the challenge of recovering from injuries sustained after the Nations Cup in June, but expressed optimism about moving in the right direction.

Malaysia, drawn in Group B with South Korea, Bangladesh, and Taiwan, will depart for India this Friday. They plan to play two friendly matches against India and China before starting their tournament campaign. The Speedy Tigers, who were runners-up in 2022, aim for the 2026 World Cup slot, contingent on winning the 2025 Asian Cup.

Sarjit also highlighted the tournament's role as a platform to maintain Malaysia's position as the number two team in Asia according to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings.