KUALA LUMPUR – Tunas Angsana Hockey Club has launched a grassroots development programme aimed at nurturing Malaysia’s next generation of hockey talent, with former national player and coach K. Dharmaraj appointed to lead the initiative.
The under-12 programme, launched today at Stadium Tun Razak in Jalan Duta, has already attracted 105 boys and girls for its inaugural intake, reflecting strong interest in hockey development at the grassroots level.
The initiative was officially launched by Tunas Angsana president Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri Anwar Mohammad Nor, who is also a former president of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
Designed for children aged 12 and below, the programme seeks to provide structured training focused on technical skills, physical development, discipline, teamwork and sporting values under the guidance of experienced coaches.
Speaking to Scoop, Dharmaraj said the programme was created to address the lack of accessible training opportunities for young children interested in hockey, particularly in Kuala Lumpur.
“Many children in Kuala Lumpur are interested in playing hockey, but unfortunately they do not have enough opportunities or suitable places to train regularly and develop their skills.
“We wanted to bridge that gap by creating a programme that provides proper coaching, structured training and a positive environment where children can learn the fundamentals of the game from an early age.
“Our objective is not only to teach them how to play hockey, but also to help them develop discipline, confidence and teamwork. With the right guidance, these children can progress to represent their schools, their states and, hopefully, one day the national team,” he said.
Dharmaraj said the overwhelming response to the programme demonstrated that hockey continues to enjoy strong grassroots interest despite growing competition from other sports.
“The response has been extremely encouraging. We have seen strong interest from both parents and children, which shows there is still a healthy appetite for hockey at the grassroots level.
“This is not a short-term project. We are looking at a long-term development programme where players can be monitored and guided throughout their formative years. We also have several former national players involved, which will allow the children to learn directly from individuals who have competed at the highest level,” he added.
The former national coach said the programme would emphasise holistic player development through regular training sessions and talent identification activities aimed at producing future state and national players.
A holder of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) coaching certificate, Dharmaraj guided Malaysia to the Junior Asia Cup title in Melaka in 2012 before leading the national junior squad to a fourth-place finish at the Junior World Cup in New Delhi in 2013.
He currently serves as technical director of the Indonesian Hockey Federation, a role he has held for the past six years, while also overseeing the Tunas Angsana programme with the necessary approvals.
Among his achievements in Indonesia was helping the men’s indoor hockey team win gold medals at the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh and again at last year’s SEA Games competition in Thailand.
Joining him in the coaching setup are former national players Iman Gobinathan, Lum Man Fatt, Farah Ayuni Yahya and Ibrisham Nadzri, who will assist in developing young hockey talent through the programme. – June 25, 2026