KUALA LUMPUR – The Putra Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil will likely remain the main training venue for the national indoor hockey team ahead of the SEA Games in Bangkok later this year.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal expressed confidence that the team’s preparations will not be disrupted, despite talks of the stadium being temporarily closed and possibly repurposed as a multi-purpose hall.
“There’s no problem. We have a very good relationship with the Malaysia Stadium Board (PSM) and they’ve assured us that hockey will be prioritised,” said Subahan at a press conference today.
He acknowledged the stadium’s occasional use for other sports such as badminton, particularly during major tournaments like the Malaysia Open, but stressed that the indoor team’s training schedule would not be affected.
“We’ve already sat down and discussed our calendar with PSM. In fact, I’m very pleased because Stadium Putra has been a very conducive training centre for us,” he added.
Subahan also revealed that the national team will play friendly matches against Ireland and Iran as part of their SEA Games build-up, with plans to hold training sessions outside Kuala Lumpur to broaden players’ exposure.
When asked if the venue will remain available until the regional games, he replied: “No problem so far. God willing, we will continue to use it.” – May 7, 2025