Salalah, Oman: Malaysia stormed into the Super 4 of the 12th Men’s Hockey Asia Cup after registering the tournament’s biggest victory — a thumping 15-0 win over Chinese Taipei in their final Pool B match.
Star striker Akhimullah Anuar led the charge with five goals, while Ashran Hamsani netted four and Sumantari Nurfayak struck a hat-trick. Aiman Rozmi, Andy Walifayan, and Abulkamal Azrai added one goal each to complete the rout.
Malaysia dominated throughout, scoring 14 field goals and one from a penalty stroke. They earned two penalty strokes but could convert only one, through Anuar. Despite winning three penalty corners, Malaysia could not score from them, while Chinese Taipei too failed to capitalise on their four penalty corners.
With this emphatic result, Malaysia finished the pool stage with a perfect record of three wins from three matches, securing nine points and the top spot in Pool B.
In the other Pool B match, South Korea defeated Bangladesh 5-1 to seal their place in the Super 4. Den Sun scored twice — once from open play and once off a penalty corner — while Ta Seongwoo, Seong Ho, and Jihun Yang (penalty stroke in the final second) added one goal each.
Bangladesh’s lone goal came from Shahnur. Both sides earned three penalty corners each, converting one apiece. Korea raced to a 4-1 lead within the first 22 minutes, and Yang’s late strike sealed the win.
South Korea ended the pool stage with two wins and one defeat, finishing second in Pool B with six points, scoring 13 goals and conceding five, with a goal difference of +8. Their only loss came against Malaysia, who beat them 4-1 earlier in the tournament.
With Malaysia and South Korea advancing, Pool B’s Super 4 line-up is now complete, setting the stage for the next phase of the Asia Cup.
