KUALA LUMPUR: Dutch keeper Pirmin Blaak intends to blank out Malaysia in hockey's World Cup in India.
Blaak will face Malaysia in their opening Group C match in Roukerla on Jan 14, and Blaak will be hard to beat yet again.
The man from Rotterdam is on the eve of his fourth major tournament as the Netherlands' first choice keeper.
"I want a medal. Preferably a gold one," he said.
In the 2018 World Cup, when the Dutch hammered Malaysia 7-0, Blaak stopped every move by the Malaysian forwards in his semi-circle.
Blaak told web portal hockey.nl/nieuw how he kept away rivals for his position by "over training" but it was worth the sweat and pain.
Blaak was the only member of the old guard to continue under Netherlands new coach Jeroen Delmée after the Tokyo Olympics where the Dutch finished sixth.
However Blaak felt he was not ready to retire yet after a creditable performance in Tokyo. A lot has changed under Delmée and his assistant Eric Verboom, but one thing remained the same: the battle for the job between the posts.
Blaak had to prove himself again under the new coach, and he often wondered what he should work on improving. And he trained himself 10 times a week.
"Playing top sport can be tough. As an athlete you have to be armed for everything. I don't think everyone realises what competition does to people. Struggle is important, up to a certain level. But a whole year doesn't always bring out the best in you. If you go over that level, it collapses.
"The eternal struggle has also made me who I am. It has made me better as a goalkeeper and as a person. I am constantly working to improve. Always looking over my shoulders and get on every workout. As a result, I've made far fewer mistakes in recent years and I try to enjoy it much more.
"Four years ago I won the prize for best goalkeeper of the World Cup. Have performed well in Orange. That is the most important part."
Now, Blaak wants to shine in the India World Cup. And Malaysia may find him a stumbling block again.
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