It was a day of mixed fortunes but immense pride for Malaysian junior hockey as the Men’s U18 squad officially booked their ticket to the semi-finals, while the Women’s U18 team fought valiantly but saw their title hopes halted at the Men’s and Women’s U18 Asia Cup 2026.

Men’s Squad Dominates China to Clinch Semi-Final Slot

The Men’s U18 National Team put on a masterclass in efficiency, dismantling China 3-0 in their final Pool B match. The victory secured Malaysia a top-two finish in the group, successfully replicating last year’s impressive run to the final four.

After a tightly contested first half, the breakthrough came in the 41st minute when Dheeressh Gunaseelan converted a penalty corner to break the deadlock.

Just three minutes later, Ahmad Idham Fikri Mohd Rizal doubled the lead with a spectacular field goal.

Harieq Hadief Mohd Fariq then put the game completely out of China’s reach in the 57th minute, firing home another penalty corner to seal the 3-0 triumph.

Adding to the celebrations, midfield anchor Mohammad Nor Shahir was named the official Player of the Match following an outstanding performance in controlling the tempo and orchestrating the plays from the center of the pitch.

The young Tigers now await their semi-final opponents. The crucial semi-final fixtures are scheduled for Friday, June 5, with Semi-Final 1 taking place at 4:00 PM and Semi-Final 2 at 6:00 PM (Malaysian Time).

Women’s Squad Falls Narrowly, Prepares for 5th-6th Placement Clash

Over in Pool A, the Women’s U18 National Team’s dreams of reaching the semi-finals were heartbreakingly dashed after a razor-thin 0-1 defeat to powerhouse South Korea.

The Malaysian women put up a spectacular defensive display, frustrating the Koreans for most of the match.

However, the decisive blow came in the 29th minute when Korea’s Kwon Hayeon capitalised on a penalty stroke to score the only goal of the game.

Despite the setback, their journey in Kakamigahara is far from over. The Malaysian women still have plenty to play for as they transition into the classification bracket.

They will face an opponent yet to be determined in the 5th/6th placing match scheduled for Thursday, June 4 at 11:00 AM (Malaysian Time), aiming to conclude their continental campaign on a high note.

Match Scorers

Men’s Pool B – Malaysia (3) vs China (0)

• 41′ – Dheeressh Gunaseelan (Penalty Corner)
• 44′ – Ahmad Idham Fikri Mohd Rizal (Field Goal)
• 57′ – Harieq Hadief Mohd Fariq (Penalty Corner)

Women’s Pool A – Malaysia (0) vs Korea (1)

• 29′ – Kwon Hayeon (Penalty Stroke)