KUALA LUMPUR — The wait for a podium finish continues for the Malaysian Tigress after they suffered a 4-1 defeat to Japan during the third-place playoff at the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) earlier today.
In the match held in Rajgir, Bihar, the Malaysian team failed to replicate their strong performance against China in yesterday’s semi-final.
This loss marks Malaysia’s continued 11-year wait for a podium finish in the tournament, last achieved during the 2013 edition in Kakamigahara, Japan.
However, coach Nasihin Nubli views the fourth-place finish as an improvement compared to previous editions.
In last year’s edition, Malaysia ended in fifth place, while in 2021, the team had to withdraw at the last minute.
Additionally, this time, Nasihin fielded 12 new players making their debut for the national team, as several senior players were sidelined due to injuries.
“The players didn’t start the match well, especially in the first and second quarters, and Japan punished us with an early goal.
“However, in the third and fourth quarters, the team managed to recover after we adjusted our structure and positioning, which eventually led to us scoring a goal.
“Overall, this tournament has been a significant experience as it marks the first time we’ve competed in the ACT with many new faces from the under-21 squad.
“I feel there has been noticeable improvement, particularly in our gameplay and self-confidence.
“However, moving forward, we need to work even harder. There is still a lot to improve in terms of strength, fitness, and hockey tactics,” said Nasihin.
India claimed the ACT title with a narrow 1-0 victory over China, courtesy of Deepika Sehrawat’s goal. — November 20, 2024