Kuala lumpur: The national veteran hockey squad received a funding boost of RM1.36 million in preparation for the 2026 Masters Hockey World Cup championship, which will take place in the Netherlands and Belgium from July 22 to Aug 16.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sultan Ahmad Shah (SAS) Malaysian Veteran Hockey Association president Tengku Arif Temenggong Tengku Fahad Mu'adzam Shah stated that the funds, raised through contributions from various parties, would be fully utilised to cover the expenses of the Malaysian contingent competing across five age categories. The funds are intended to cover accommodation, travel, and tournament preparation costs. Additionally, the financial support will aid veteran players who require assistance to participate in the competition.
"The money will be used to cover the accommodation, travel and for future events, and also hopefully our idea as well is that we can sponsor the best ex-national team players who maybe might be struggling with some expenses and we want to bring them back to represent Malaysian veterans hockey," Tengku Fahad explained. He shared these details while addressing reporters after the Royal High Tea Ceremony, which was held in conjunction with the announcement of the fundraising for the tournament. The event was graced by Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who serves as the Patron of SAS.
For the 40-year-old age category of the championship, matches will take place at HC Schiedam, Schiedam, the Netherlands, while the 45-year-old and 50-year-old categories will compete at HC Rotterdam, the Netherlands from July 22 to Aug 1. Meanwhile, the 60-year-old category is scheduled to compete at HC Olympia, Brasschaat, Antwerp, Belgium, and the 65-year-old category will be held at BHV Push, Breda, the Netherlands from Aug 6 to 16.
The Masters Hockey World Cup is the most prestigious tournament for veteran hockey players globally and is organised every two years. The 2026 edition marks the eighth staging since World Masters Hockey was established in 2012 through the merger of the International Masters Hockey Association (IMHA) and the World Grand Masters Association (WGMA), bringing together the best teams in the world across various age categories.