By Tony Mariadass

Malaysian Speedy Tigers made history in style in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament 2023 to qualify for the final for the first time ever in six attempts since the inception of the tournament in 2011, with a thumping 6-2 victory over defending champions Korea, at the at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai last night.

After having just defeated Korea by a solitary goal victory in their final group stage match on Wednesday, although Korea displayed some earlier resistance, the former turned on their power for this huge victory.

Malaysia had finished second after the round-robin stage winning four out of five matches (only losing to host India 0-5), to register their best-ever performance by reaching the final for the first time.

Although it was the Koreans who opened accounts as early as the 1st minute when Ji Woo Cheon scored, Malaysia leveled through Azrai Abu Kamal a minute later.

Malaysia went on to take the lead when Najmi Farizal Jazlan scored in the ninth minute.

However, Korea equalised in the 14th minute off a Jang Jong Hyun penalty corner.

After a two-minute break, Malaysia who took the lead again off a penalty corner drive in the 19th minute through Faizal Saari.

Najmi made it 4-2 in the 21st minute.

In the 42nd minute, Korea were awarded a penalty stroke but goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman kept Malaysia when he stopped Yang Jihun’s shot.

Shello made it 5-2 in the 47th minute, and the he scored again in the 48th for the 6-2 convincing win.

National coach Arul Anthoni Selvaraj was obviously extremely happy with the performance of the team.

“It is a performance I will remember for a long time. It was a performance of confidence, believe and they were on fire. That is what we talked about in the meeting prior to the game and they delivered,” Arul told Apa Khabar after the game.

“ With one goal down, the players held their heads high and went about the game to draw well and take it from thereon. I am very pleased with their performance.

“The big message to the players was that we beat them 1-0 on Wednesday and we will beat them again everytime we play them. That is the message that we need to bring for the Asian Games – the energy and confidence.

“The final is a different ball game – it is a do-or die game. We do not know whether we play India or Japan. I just want the players to work very hard and enjoy the final and the moment.”

There was more reason for Malaysia to be on top of the world, with their world ranking moving up by one rung to ninth.

Pakistan faced China in the fifth place play-off earlier and won 6-1 and India is playing Japan in the other semifinal now.

FOOTNOTE : India beat Japan 5-0 in the other semifinals.