Hannah Agrees With FAM's Move To Withdraw From CAFA Cup
She said the decision was undoubtedly made based on thorough consideration by the national team's coaches and management, particularly concerning player readiness.
'When it comes to Malaysia's participation in any tournament, what matters most is whether the athletes and coaches are prepared. I have read the coach's (Peter Cklamovski) statement and I believe he knows best about the team's preparations.
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'I accept and respect the reasons given by the coach and the association,' she told reporters after officiating the 2025 Asia Pickleball Summit here today.
In her speech, Hannah praised the rapid growth of pickleball in the country, aligning with the ministry's efforts to encourage more Malaysians to stay active and participate in sports.
In a statement yesterday, FAM said the decision to withdraw was due to a change in match dates, which now fall outside the official FIFA international window, presenting challenges on multiple fronts for the national squad as clubs are not obligated to release their players.
Additionally, Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski said the withdrawal was the right move, with the team set to focus fully on their training camp ahead of crucial matches against Laos and Nepal in October and November.
However, CAFA, in a statement yesterday, said Malaysia's participation had been confirmed much earlier with full awareness of the unchanged tournament dates and schedule.
Malaysia, currently ranked 125th in the world, were supposed to compete in Group B alongside host nation Tajikistan, defending champions Iran, and Afghanistan.
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