KUALA LUMPUR: The national junior men’s hockey squad’s dream of ending the 2024 Junior Asia Cup campaign in Muscat, Oman by winning a podium place was dashed after losing 1-2 to Japan in the third-fourth playoff match at the Oman Al Marat Hockey Stadium, yesterday.
Japan started the action aggressively when Tanaka Tsubasa opened the score with a field goal as early as the seventh minute before Fujiwara Yuma doubled the lead two minutes later to put the national squad under immense pressure.
Malaysia bounced back in the second quarter when Mohammad Harris Iskandar Osman converted a penalty corner in the 23rd minute to close the gap but the efforts of I. Vikneswaran’s men in search of an equaliser were unsuccessful.
Malaysia’s best achievement in the Junior Asia Cup was emerging champions in the 2012 edition in Melaka, while in the last edition in Salalah, Oman, the Young Tigers finished fourth.
The Young Tigers had already confirmed their ticket to the 2025 Youth World Cup earlier after successfully finishing the Group B stage as runner-up after losing 1-4 to Pakistan.
The tournament also determines the qualification for the Junior World Cup with the six best teams automatically qualifying. – BERNAMA
