MHC-The Facts Were Staring Right at Us

First and foremost, using the term "post-mortem" to analyse why the Malaysian hockey team failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics sounds morbid and dreadful. Let's change it to "fact-finding." This sounds more forward-looking since we're looking for facts. This reminds me of Dr. Bertrand Russell's wise words: "When you are studying any matter or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only: What are the facts, and what is the truth that the facts bear out? Never let yourself be diverted by what you wish to believe or what you think could have beneficent social effects if it were believed, but look only and surely at what the facts are." My fact-finding mission began in July 2015 after Malaysia lost to India 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the Olympic Qualifier in Antwerp, Belgium. A win would have secured our place for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. This is where I got the phrase "It's so close yet so far." All these facts were compiled and written on this blog in December 2015 under the title "Seeing and Taking Action in Development—Parts 1, 2, and 3." I will repost it for MHC and my readers. Please bear with the English grammar and focus on the facts. The facts were staring at MHC, but they didn't change; hence, the players didn't change and the result didn't change. This was reflected in the 2018 Asian Games final in Jakarta, where the phrase "so close yet so far" haunts us again. Thank you. P.S: I hope my articles will help MHC to plan the future of Malaysian hockey.