Junior Asia Cup: Five-star Malaysia Off To Cracking Start

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia began their Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 campaign in style when they trounced China 5-2 in Muscat, Oman today.

Malaysia got their goals at the Oman Hockey Stadium through Che Nur Aqilrullah Che Mohd Khairulzi Anwar (17th minute), Muhammad Addy Jazmi Jamlus (34th), Muhammad Khairul Norizam (43rd), Naaveennash Panicker (44th) and Muhammad Danish Danial Abdul Wahab (59th).

China replied through Wang Yubo (5th minute) and Zhang Jialiang (46th).

Malaysia, also known as the Young Tigers, will continue their Group B campaign with matches against hosts Oman tomorrow, Bangladesh on Saturday (Nov 30) and Pakistan on Sunday (Dec 1).

National team manager Ganesh Shanmugam had, in a statement issued by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC), said that the team’s main target is to finish top two in the group and qualify for the semi-finals.

National team head coach I. Vikneswaran had also stressed the need for them to reach the last four of the tournament, with the top six teams earning spots in the 2025 Junior World Cup.

-- BERNAMA