Injured forward Norsyafiq set to miss ACT

KUALA LUMPUR: National forward Norsyafiq Sumantri will be out of action as he will undergo biceps surgery next week.

The 30-year-old player, who was a member of the national team that won a silver medal in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games last week, will not feature in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Punjab, India from Oct 27 to Nov 5.

Norsyafiq made his debut in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games and has represented Malaysia 161 times and scored 21 goals.

The Tenaga Nasional (TNB) player will also not play in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).

TNB coach Madzli Ikmar said Norsyafiq injured his right biceps during the Asian Games and he will go for surgery on Monday.

"Norsyafiq will not feature in ACT, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (in Ipoh from Nov 22-29) and also in the national league," he said.

"Another TNB defender Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan is also nursing a leg injury. He did not play in the MHL match against UiTM (Universiti Teknologi Mara) yesterday."

TNB outplayed UiTM 9-2 on Friday and lead the eight-team standings with 25 points from eight wins and a draw.

"He will undergo a medical check-up at NS! (National Sports Institute) on Monday to see how bad his injury is," said the former national captain.

Syed Syafiq is a penalty corner specialist but he did not feature in the recent Asian Games due to a hairline fracture in his shin, which he suffered in the opening match against Germany at the World Cup in Belgium.

Madzli said that despite not having two national players, they have enough strength to go for the treble in the national league.

TNB edged Terengganu 5-4 to win the Charity Shield and will be aiming for the league and TNB (overall) Cup.