Judul : Underwater hockey to debut at Southeast Asian Games
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Underwater hockey to debut at Southeast Asian Games
Underwater hockey has a small but dedicated following. Also called “Octopush”, the sport will debut at the Southeast Asian Games this year.
Invented in the 1950s in Britain – where it is known as “Octopush” – to help divers keep fit during the winter months, the game has gained a small but dedicated following from Europe to Asia.
This year the unusual discipline is set to debut at the
SEA Games
, the region’s biennial mini-Olympics that attracts thousands of athletes.
At the national aquatics centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, male and female players donned snorkels, flippers, caps and gloves ahead of a tough practice session.
Underwater hockey to make waves at Southeast Asia mini-Olympicsu.afp.com/JEs5
Mohd Rasfan takes a dip with players training in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur
Underwater hockey is not for the faint-hearted – players shoot around at high speed, swimming over one another and jostling as they try to hit the heavy puck, and smash it fast through the water.
They occasionally bob up to the surface for a breath of air before diving back down again.
You need to be able to swim, and you need to be able to hold your breath
“You need to be able to swim, and you need to be able to hold your breath,” said Ishmael Ho, who will captain the Malaysian men’s team at the SEA Games – held in the Philippines in November and December.
“Verbal communication is almost impossible,” he said.
‘Octopush’ will make its debut at the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines. Photo: AFP
A match usually consists of two teams of six playings in a space measuring 15 by 25 metres at a depth of two metres, with each half lasting anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the tournament rules.
He took up the sport as a university student in Wales eight years ago and helped to pioneer it in Malaysia in 2016, playing with a handful of enthusiasts at a public pool outside of Kuala Lumpur.
It starts off with teams charging from opposite ends of the playing area for the puck and then fighting it out below the surface as they try to push it into the opposing side’s goal. The goals are usually two long trays at each end of the playing area.
About 50 people in Malaysia now play the game, with the most dedicated doing four training sessions a week for two hours at a time.
Malaysia will send 24 players to compete in male and female categories of the
sport at the SEA Games
. Four gold medals are up for grabs and other teams competing are the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar.
Relative newcomers Malaysia, who are funding their trip to the Philippines out of their own pockets, are underdogs but hope to at least win bronze.
The Philippines, where underwater hockey has been played for decades, is seen as one of the best sides while Singapore and Indonesia are also regarded as strong contenders.
Members of Indonesia’s women’s underwater hockey team in training. Photo: AFP
“The team is working hard to get at least a podium finish,” Ho said.
“For the bronze, we will give our competitors a good fight.”
Indonesia coach Reza Anggara meanwhile said he was “optimistic” about his sides’ prospects, with the men targeting gold and its women aiming for silver.
“The team has been working hard training and they’re ready to go,” he said after a recent practice session.
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