{{Short description|Malaysian field hockey player}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Malay name|Faizal|Saari}} {{Infobox field hockey player | name = Faizal Saari | image = | full_name = Faizal bin Saari | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|1|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu,<br />Malaysia | position = Forward | years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = Tenaga Nasional Berhad | years2 = 2011– | clubs2 = Southern Hotshots | years3 = 2011– | clubs3 = Forestville | years4 = 2012– | clubs4 = Tenaga Nasional Berhad | years5 = 2012–2013 | clubs5 = Mumbai Magicians | years6 = 2013– | clubs6 = Terengganu | caps1 = | goals1 = | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 3 | caps3 = 3 | goals3 = 7 | caps4 = ? | goals4 = 20 | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 0 | caps6 = | goals6 = | nationalteam1 = Malaysia | nationalyears1 = 2009– | nationalcaps1 = 302 | nationalgoals1 = 176 | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's field hockey}} {{MedalCountry|{{MAS}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}} {{MedalSilver|2010 Guangzhou|Team}} {{MedalSilver|2018 Jakarta-Palembang|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|Asia Cup}} {{MedalSilver|2017 Dhaka|}} {{MedalSilver|2022 Jakarta|}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Champions Trophy}} {{MedalSilver|2023 Chennai|}} {{MedalBronze|2011 Ordos|}} {{MedalBronze|2012 Doha|}} {{MedalBronze|2013 Kakamigahara|}} {{MedalBronze|2016 Malaysia|}} {{MedalBronze|2018 Muscat|}} {{MedalCompetition|Southeast Asian Games}} {{MedalGold|2017 Kuala Lumpur|Team}} }} '''Faizal bin Saari''' (born 13 January 1991) is a Malaysian field hockey player.<ref>[http://w1.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/2012051406212120120514062121/Article Faizal peledak keramat negara] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529090002/http://w1.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/2012051406212120120514062121/Article |date=29 May 2014 }} – Berita Harian, 14 May 2012. {{in lang|ms}}</ref> He currently plays as a striker for Terengganu Hockey Team.
==Career== ===Club=== Faizal started his Malaysia Hockey League career with Terengganu Hockey Team. He was the 2011 league top goalscorer with 19 goals.<ref>[http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/hockey-malaysia-to-play-without-top-strikers-1.2205 Malaysia to play without top strikers.] – New Straits Times, 4 November 2011.</ref>
In June 2011, Faizal started his overseas career along with another Malaysian Sukri Mutalib. They were selected by the Southern Hotshots team for the Australian Hockey League. He represented Southern Hotshots in the ten matches league.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.bettor.com/Malaysian-Hockey-Player-Faizal-Saari-optimistic-for-his-debut-in-Australian-Hockey-League-a71504 |title=Malaysian Hockey Player Faizal Saari optimistic for his debut in Australian Hockey League |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410160037/http://blogs.bettor.com/Malaysian-Hockey-Player-Faizal-Saari-optimistic-for-his-debut-in-Australian-Hockey-League-a71504 |archive-date=10 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He scored three goals in five matches for Southern Hotshots. He also played in the Adelaide League and made seven strikes for Forestville Hockey Club in three appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.bettor.com/Faizal-Saari-assures-to-keep-his-annoyance-in-calm-in-the-Razak-Cup-a83500 |title=Faizal Saari assures to keep his annoyance in calm in the Razak Cup |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410145106/http://blogs.bettor.com/Faizal-Saari-assures-to-keep-his-annoyance-in-calm-in-the-Razak-Cup-a83500 |archive-date=10 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2012, he returned to Tenaga Nasional Berhad Hockey Club and earned the top goalscorer award with 20 goals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fieldhockey.com/archives/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1686:news-for-11-october-2012&catid=48:october&Itemid=57|title=Fieldhockey.com Archives 2014 -|website=www.fieldhockey.com}}</ref> While playing for Tenaga Nasional Berhad, he received an offer to play in the Spanish Division One for Atlètic Terrassa Hockey Club.<ref>[http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2012/9/4/sports/11964619&sec=sports In-demand striker Faizal hoping to play in Spain.] – The Star, 4 September 2012.</ref>
After the 2012 season ended, Faizal was bought over by Mumbai Magicians for US$26,000 (MYR79,560) in an auction to feature in the Hockey India League. He is the highest paid hockey player in Malaysia, followed by Kumar Subramaniam who featured for Uttar Pradesh Wizards after being bought over for US$15,000 (MYR45,900).<ref>[http://www.sports247.my/2012/12/faizal-hopes-to-keep-up-the-magic/ Faizal hopes to keep up the magic.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529084709/http://www.sports247.my/2012/12/faizal-hopes-to-keep-up-the-magic/ |date=29 May 2014 }} – sports247, 30 December 2012.</ref> However he had a miserable outing in the HIL firing blanks in all 12 matches.<ref>[http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2013/2/15/sports/12713868&sec=sports Striker Faizal fails to sound the board in 12 IHL matches.] – The Star, 15 February 2013.</ref>
===International=== Faizal made his national senior team debut in the Champions Challenge II in Dublin in 2009 aged 18.<ref>[http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/5/26/sports/8756154&sec=sports Faizal hopes Aussie stint will help sharpen his scoring act.] – The Star, 26 May 2011.</ref> He was the members of the Malaysian squad that won the silver medal in the 2010 Asian Games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.bettor.com/Faizal-Saari-is-emerging-as-a-future-star-of-the-Malaysian-hockey-a79885 |title=Faizal Saari is emerging as a future star of the Malaysian hockey |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410144920/http://blogs.bettor.com/Faizal-Saari-is-emerging-as-a-future-star-of-the-Malaysian-hockey-a79885 |archive-date=10 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also part of Malaysia youth team that won the 2012 Asian Hockey Youth Cup. He scored one of the two goals in the final against Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sinarharian.com.my/sukan/malaysia-muncul-juara-piala-remaja-asia-1.47655|title=Sukan Sinar Harian|first=Sinar|last=Harian|date=6 January 2023|website=Sinar Harian}}</ref>
Faizal was the leading goal scorer at the 2018 Asian Men's Hockey Champions Trophy where he finished with 8 goals. Malaysia finished at the 3rd place after defeating Japan 3–2 in the penalty shootouts in the bronze medal match.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{FIH|1375}}
{{Malaysia FH Squad 2010 Asian Games}} {{Malaysia FH Squad 2014 World Cup}} {{Malaysia FH Squad 2018 World Cup}} {{Malaysia FH Squad 2018 Asian Games}}
Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Malaysian people of Malay descent Category:Sportspeople from Kelantan Category:Malaysian men's field hockey players Category:Men's field hockey forwards Category:Field hockey players at the 2010 Asian Games Category:2014 Men's Hockey World Cup players Category:Field hockey players at the 2018 Asian Games Category:2018 Men's Hockey World Cup players Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games Category:Asian Games silver medalists for Malaysia Category:Asian Games field hockey players for Malaysia Category:Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games Category:Expatriate field hockey players Category:Malaysian expatriates in Australia Category:Malaysian expatriates in India Category:Hockey India League players Category:SEA Games gold medalists for Malaysia Category:SEA Games medalists in field hockey Category:Competitors at the 2017 SEA Games Category:2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup players Category:Asian Games silver medalists in field hockey