KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s hopes of ending their Asian Games campaign on a positive note were shattered after a 5-2 defeat to Pakistan in the fifth and sixth-place match at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park hockey stadium today.
The team, led by head coach Arul Selvaraj, were dominated by the world number 15-ranked side in the first two-quarters of the match.
Both teams were vying to finish fifth in the tournament after failing to make the semi-finals following the results of their respective final group matches in both Pools A and B.
Malaysia’s two goals were scored by Muhammad Aminuddin Mohd Zain in the fifth minute and Muhammad Razie Abd Rahim (58th).
Pakistan’s goals were scored by Ahmad Arbaz (eighth), Abdul Rehman (37th), Abdul Rana (51st), Ammad Muhammad (53rd), and Afraz (59th).
Malaysia have only finished this low once since their Asiad debut in 1958, during the 2006 Games in Doha when they placed sixth after losing 4-0 to India.
As Malaysia missed out on a direct Olympic qualification slot through the Asian Games, the team’s only hope will now be centred on the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers scheduled to take place from January 15 to 21 in Oman.
The Speedy Tigers are currently ranked 10th in the FIH world rankings with 2,041.37 points.
Their best finish in the Asian Games came in the 2018 edition in Jakarta and Palembang, where they won the silver medal. – October 6, 2023