Asia Cup Hockey 2025 Day 5: Malaysia Defeat China, India Held by South Korea

Photo by Pixel Sports\Debjoy Biswas

Japan vs. Chinese Taipei:

Japan take on Chinese Taipei, after narrowly missing out on the Super 4s, after a slim defeat against India and a hard fought draw against China. Chinese Taipei on the other hand had a group stage to forget in which they had conceded 30 goals and scored only 3 goals in 3 matches. Japan looked to finish their tournament on a high and as they target a 5^th place finish, whereas the aim for Chinese Taipei wanted to avoid another humiliation and take valuable experience going into the final stages of the tournament.

The match ended 2-0 to Japan but it was a much closer affair than anyone ever imagined and that’s a credit to the underdogs. Japan scored two goals inside the first 11’, both the goals were scored by Ryosuke Shinohara(5’ & 11’). But after conceding the goals, Chinese Taipei tighened up their defence and Japan even after getting seven penalty corners and managing to get inside the Chinese Taipei circle for a total of forty times, they could not break the Chinese Taipei defence. Chinese Taipei did not offer much in the attack department as they managed no penalty corners and only managed to get inside the Japanese circle only three times.

With this victory Japan firmly set their sights on finishing fifth and salvaging something in what has been an otherwise average display from them in the tournament. Japan’s next game is against Bangladesh on sunday and Chinese Taipei end their campaign with a match against Kazakhstan on Saturday.

Malaysia vs. China:

A mouthwatering Super 4 clash between one of the best attacks in the tournament and one of the best defence in the tournament. Malaysia looked to do what they have done for the entire group stages where they have dominated their opponents and they looked to unleash their star, Akhimulla Anuar, who is the current leading goal scorer of the tournament with 9 goals after the Group Stage. China, who not many gave a chance of qualifying for the Super 4, have played a certain brand of hockey and have got desired results from it.

They have one thing in common, that is both Sarjit Kundan and Roelant Oltmans have time and time again dismissed being called favourites to win the tournament and have labelled India as clear favourites.

The first half was tight as both teams clearly focused on not conceding the first goal. China started the game with their usual strategy by building a low block and holding their lines. Interestingly enough for Malaysia, their starman Akhimulla Anuar started the game but was soon taken off because Malaysia were playing a low block of their own and Malaysia head coach, Sarjit Kundan confirmed in the post match interview that Akhimulla was not quite used to playing in a low block set up. The first and second quarters were like a game of chess, where no team wanted to be the first team to slip up and due to this cautious approach by both the teams, the first half ended 0-0. In the second half, the roles were reversed, as it was China who were the offensive team and it was Malaysia who were pushed into their half. China were consistently using long balls to get into the Malaysian circle. Malaysia against the run of play, get a penalty corner and Syed Cholan was there to tuck the ball home and open the scoring in the 45’, in what was the last action of the quarter. When the final quarter began, Malaysia were all over China, with their starman, Akhimulla Anuar, doing what he has done all tournament, getting on the scoresheet in the 47’. It was Akhimulla Anuar’s tenth goal of the campaign. Malaysia dominated the rest of the quarter by getting a total of five penalty corners. The Chinese players, who were perhaps the most disciplined team in the entire tournament, were starting to lose their temper. Soon, the match was over and Malaysia, were one step closer to reaching the final. They take on India next, on 4^th September. China on the other hand, will look to bounce back and get their campaign back on track against South Korea on 4^th September.

India vs. South Korea:

Defending champions South Korea faced off against the hosts India in what promised to be a match full of goals and entertainment. India got into their goals groove after putting 15 goals past the Kazakh net, and South Korea having bounced back after a tough Malaysian challenge to score 5 goals against Bangladesh. South Korea’s highest goalscorer of the tournament, Son Dain, spoke to PixelSports and said, “In the Super 4s, you will see the real South Korea.” That implies that South Korea are not ready just yet to give up their Asian throne whereas India also wanted to feed off from their home support and put this South Korean challenge to bed.

India started the match on a strong note after winning 3 back to back penalty corners. In the 8’, Hardik Singh, dribbled past the entire South Korean defence and found the back of the net. But after conceding the goal, South Korea’s found a way to respond. They got a penalty stroke and Jihun Yang converted it. A couple of minutes later South Korea, get a penalty corner was beautifully slotted home by Hyeonhong Kim to make it 1-2 to South Korea. Their was pin drop silence in the Stadium as India went behind for the first time in the tournament since the opening game against China. From the second quarter, South Korea were playing a very different tactic, a tactic which they had not used in the group stages, South Korea was hounding Indian players with three markers and this was frustrating the Indian players as they not able to exploit spaces. The pressure was clearly getting to India as experienced players like Dilpreet were making mistakes and losing the ball in dangerous areas. The second quarter was all about South Korea frustrating Indian players. India couldn’t create many chances. Jarmanpreet Singh got the closest, when he took a shot but his shot was blocked. The pressure got to India so much, that captain Harmanpreet Singh, was playing striker at one point of time. In the third quarter, Sukhjeet Singh probably had the chance of the game, when he got an open opportunity, which he ultimately dragged wide. In the third quarter India were finally getting some opportunities. Abhishek took a piledriver of a shot which forced a save out of the South Korean goalkeeper. South Korea also tried to rally their men forward in a late opportunity which required goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak making a reaction save. At the beginning of the final quarter, India got a penalty corner which to the surprise of everyone, was not met by penalty corner specialist Harmanpreet Singh, instead Jugraj Singh took it, but attempt was blocked. With only nine minutes to go, India started an attack from the left flank, which involved Sanjay, Dilpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh who brilliant played a ball across goal for a simple tap in by Mandeep Singh, finally India were level. It was absolutely deafening in the ground after the equalizer. After the equalizer, India went straight to the attack and got two back to back penalty corners for their effort but they could not convert them. South Korea got a final penalty corner which was blocked by the Indian defence. The game ended all square. With this draw, the remaining games are must win encounters for both India and South Korea, with India facing Malaysia on 4^th September and South Korea playing China on the same day.