Malaysia’s hopes of finishing on the podium at the 13th Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 were dashed after a narrow 1-2 defeat to India in their final group stage match at the Johor Hockey Stadium, Taman Daya.
The result means Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin’s Young Tigers will now play either New Zealand or Pakistan in the 5th/6th place playoff, while India advanced to the final to face Australia in a repeat of the 2022 edition’s title clash.
The Young Tigers’ defence held firm until the 22nd minute, when India broke through via a penalty corner. Goalkeeper Haziq Muizuddin Hairul Mizan initially saved Rohit’s drag flick, but Gurjot Singh reacted quickest to tap in the rebound and give India the lead.
Malaysia fought back after halftime, and their persistence paid off in the 43rd minute when Danish Aiman Khairul Anuar lofted the ball into India’s D and P. Naveenesh deflected it past Prince Deep Singh to level the score at 1-1.
However, India quickly restored their advantage in the 48th minute, capitalizing on another penalty corner routine as Sourabh Anand Kushwaha slotted home from close range to make it 2-1. The scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Despite missing out on the semifinals, Nor Saiful emphasized the importance of maintaining focus as the team prepares for the 2025 Junior World Cup in India this December.
“Regardless of whether we face New Zealand or Pakistan next, we’ll treat it as vital preparation for the World Cup,” he said. “We’ll aim to finish the tournament strongly with a win that boosts the players’ confidence ahead of that major challenge.”
With promising performances against top sides like Australia and India, Malaysia’s U-21 squad can take valuable lessons forward as they continue their development on the international stage.
The result means Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin’s Young Tigers will now play either New Zealand or Pakistan in the 5th/6th place playoff, while India advanced to the final to face Australia in a repeat of the 2022 edition’s title clash.
Creditr Photo : Hokita
