KUALA LUMPUR — At just 17, Dheeressh Gunaseelan will be the youngest player in Malaysia’s junior men’s hockey squad at the Under-21 Asia Cup in Moqi, China, but age is not stopping him from setting his sights on making a major impact on the continental stage.
Dheeressh earned his place in the national Under-21 set-up after undergoing almost 10 months of intensive preparation under former Malaysian national captain and Olympian Norsaiful Zaini and his coaching staff.
He has been part of the national training programme since November last year, with the squad going through centralised training and gaining valuable international exposure ahead of the tournament.
Malaysia completed the first phase of its preparations in China before travelling to Bengaluru, India, earlier this month for a seven-match test series against the Indian Under-21 side.
Dheeressh said the lengthy preparation has helped the players develop stronger chemistry while improving their physical, tactical and mental readiness.
“The coaches have been working extremely hard with us and have helped us improve our game time after time. They are not only preparing us physically and tactically, but also mentally for the challenges of the Under-21 Asia Cup,” said Dheeressh in a statement to Scoop.
The teenager will also head to China with recent leadership experience, having captained Malaysia at the Under-18 Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan, last month.
“Captaining Malaysia at the Under-18 Asia Cup was a huge experience for me, but this is another big challenge. I am looking at it positively. We want to fight for the championship and hopefully bring the title back to Malaysia,” he said.
Malaysia will be looking to end a wait of almost three decades for the Under-21 Asia Cup title, with Dheeressh stressing that the team’s collective ambitions outweigh any attention surrounding his status as the youngest member of the squad.
“Being the youngest is not an issue for me. We have been together for almost 10 months, training, competing and growing together. We are a team, and everyone has a role to play,” he said.
“The most important thing is that we trust each other and work for the same goal.”
Dheeressh’s progression to the national Under-21 team also highlights the role of Malaysia’s sports school development pathway.
Having entered the programme at the age of 13, he has spent years undergoing structured training while balancing his education and competitive commitments.
“I would like to sincerely thank MHC, TNB, KBS and our sponsors who are always there to support our dreams — Berjaya, Mazda and Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia,” he said.
“A special thanks to all the coaches and teachers from the Malaysian Sports Schools who have been part of our journey. They started developing us when we were just 13 years old. They believed in us, guided us and gave us the foundation to reach this level today.”
For Dheeressh, the Under-21 Asia Cup represents another step towards a larger ambition.
He hopes to help Malaysia qualify for next year’s Junior World Cup in Chile before eventually playing a part in returning the national team to the Olympic stage.
“My dream is to make sure that we qualify for the Junior World Cup in Chile next year. Beyond that, I want to be part of the generation that helps take Malaysian hockey back to the Olympics,” he said.
“It may sound like a big dream, but my teammates and I are working towards it every single day. We sacrifice our study time, our personal time and many things that young people normally enjoy because we want to represent our country with pride.”
The tournament will also carry special personal significance for Dheeressh, whose mother, Onita Karthigeyan, celebrates her birthday on Aug 30, just days before the competition begins.
“My mum has always been there for me. She has sacrificed so much and supported me through every step of my hockey journey. Her birthday is on Aug 30, and sadly I will not be home to celebrate it with her because I will be preparing for the tournament,” he said.
“But I hope being selected to represent Malaysia will be my birthday gift to her. I want to make her proud.”
The Under-21 Asia Cup will be held from Sept 3 to 15, with Malaysia facing some of Asia’s strongest junior hockey nations as they seek to end their long wait for continental honours.
Dheeressh said the squad will head into the tournament confident after months of preparation and determined to give everything for the country.
“We are ready. We have worked extremely hard for almost 10 months and we are in high spirits. We know the challenge will be tough, but we are motivated and ready to give everything for Malaysia,” said Dheeressh.
“We need your support, your encouragement and your prayers. We will go to China carrying the Jalur Gemilang with pride and give everything we have for our country.” – August 29, 2026