Asian Games 2026: Malaysia Roar to Semi-Final with Perfect Record
Malaysia's men's hockey team, the Speedy Tigers, kept up their charge at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games with a 5-0 win over China at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium today. The result made them Pool B winners and confirmed a place in the semifinals.
The victory completed a flawless pool campaign for Malaysia. It was their fifth win from five matches, following earlier results over Uzbekistan, Oman, Thailand and Pakistan.
The Speedy Tigers were aggressive from the start. Fitri Saari broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, and Akhimullah Anuar Esook doubled the lead in the 22nd minute from a penalty corner.
Two minutes later, Ashran Hamsani made it 3-0 with a field goal. Malaysia went into the interval with a three-goal cushion and firm control of the match.
Faizal Saari stretched the advantage to 4-0 in the 40th minute, leaving China with little chance of a fightback. Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal added the fifth with a field goal in the 59th minute, sealing the win and a group finish that suited the team's ambitions.
The closing stages were disrupted by heavy rain that left the pitch waterlogged, to the point where the ball could no longer run normally. Play was suspended with one minute left on the clock.
The remaining minute will be played under International Hockey Federation (FIH) regulations. With the 5-0 scoreline standing, Malaysia's status as Pool B winners is confirmed.
The result sends Malaysia into a semifinal scheduled for October 1 at 7pm. The opponent will be the Pool A runner-up, either Japan or South Korea, who meet at 4pm today to settle the final Pool A standings and decide who faces the Speedy Tigers.
The stakes are high. The Asian Games gold medallist earns a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and Malaysia has twice reached the final, at Guangzhou 2010 and Indonesia 2018, finishing runners-up both times. After a group stage that included a 5-4 comeback against Pakistan and a 10-0 win over Thailand, the Speedy Tigers head into the knockout round in strong form.
Credit Photo : AHF
