Good draw could smooth Malaysia’s path to semis in Junior Asia Cup

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia have received a favourable draw in the men’s Junior Asia Cup after avoiding defending champions India and are in a good position to reach the semi-finals in Salalah, Oman, from May 23-June 1.

The Young Tigers are in Group B with rivals South Korea, hosts Oman, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan and should achieve the top two finish to reach the semi-finals.

Group A will see a three-way battle among India, Pakistan and Japan for a place in the semi-finals while Thailand and Taiwan are not expected to pose any threats in the group.

The last time the competition was held in Kuantan in 2015, Malaysia were unlucky to be eliminated in the quarter-finals.

In a rather unusual tournament regulation that year, all the eight teams from two groups had advanced to the knockout stage and Malaysia, who finished second in Group A behind India, were drawn to play South Korea in the last eight.

Malaysia lost 4-1 in the shootout after a 3-3 draw in regulation time and finished fifth after trouncing Bangladesh 8-0 in the playoff.

India went on to beat Pakistan 6-2 to win the title for the third time while South Korea beat Japan 2-1 to finish third.

The 2019 Junior Asia Cup was postponed several times due to Covid-19 before it was eventually cancelled.

The Asian Hockey Confederation (AHF) have reverted to the regular competition regulations for this year’s edition where the top two of each group will advance to the semi-finals and Malaysia should reach the knockout stage without any issues.

The 2015 setback is the only time Malaysia have failed to go beyond the semi-finals in eight editions of the tournament.

Malaysia won their maiden Junior Asia Cup title in Melaka in 2012 where they beat Pakistan 2-1 in the final and finished runners-up to Pakistan (0-3) in Kuala Lumpur in 1992.

THE DRAW

Group A: India, Pakistan, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan.

Group B: South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan.