Malaysia’s men’s hockey squad made an emphatic start to their Group B campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, thrashing Uzbekistan 7-0 in Gifu, Japan.
The goals started flowing early at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, with attacking stalwart Norsyafiq Sumantri breaking the deadlock in the 11th minute, converting from a penalty corner to put the Speedy Tigers ahead inside the opening quarter.
Faizal Saari then took centre stage, opening his personal account with a well-taken field goal in the 15th minute. The experienced forward added his second from a penalty corner in the 24th minute, before completing his hat-trick just before the hour mark, converting confidently from a penalty stroke in the 43rd minute to put the result well beyond doubt.
Substitute Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin also got in on the act, netting from another penalty corner in the 36th minute as Malaysia continued to pile on the pressure.
Malaysia weren’t finished there, adding two more in the closing stages through field goals — forward Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal getting his name on the scoresheet in the 59th minute, before defender Faiz Helmi Jali rounded off the scoring just a minute later to complete a comprehensive 7-0 victory.
Head coach Brendon Carolan’s side will look to carry this momentum into their second Group B fixture against Oman on Tuesday, with only the top two teams in each group progressing through to the semi-finals.
The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games officially opened on Saturday and will continue through to 4 October, with Malaysia’s hockey team now sitting pretty after a perfect start to their campaign in Gifu.
Credit Photo : AHF
