KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Young Tigress recovered from their disappointment to thrash Hong Kong 10-1 in a fifth-to-eighth classification match of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup hockey championship today.
After failing to qualify for the Junior World Cup 2023 in December when they lost 1-3 to South Korea in their final Group A match yesterday, the national team scored the win over Hong Kong to earn the right to play Kazakhstan in the fifth-sixth placing match on Sunday.
In today’s action in Kakamigahara, Japan, Nur Shamine Azureen Mohammed Badusha scored a hattrick and was named the best player of the match.
Malaysia drew first blood when Shamine scored a field goal in the second minute before Dian Nursyakira Najwa Al-Wadqa Nazeri and Siti Nur Atika Shaikh Maznan widened the lead with similar goals in the eighth and ninth minutes.
The early goals clearly further motivated Lailin Abu Hassan’s charges as Shamine scored again in the 14th minute before Hong Kong reduced the deficit through Anna Aiello’s goal four minutes later.
Malaysia continued their goal fest when Norshafiqha Ishak netted in the 24th minute, followed by Shamine who scored a field goal in the 39th minute to complete her hattrick, Nur Irdina Mohd Nor in the 40th minute and a penalty corner conversion by Khairunnisa Ayuni Mohd Shaaruddin a minute later.
Malaysia completed the rout with two more field goals, by Azmyra Mia Sofea Azhairy in the 52nd minute and Nur Nabila Alia Yussaini in the 60th minute.
Lailin expressed satisfaction with the win but said the midfielders needed to tighten their play for the next match.
“In the match just now, we could see certain weaknesses which need to be overcome, especially in midfield where we frequently lost ball possession.
“Tomorrow, we will hold a meeting to discuss rectifying our shortcomings.
“I hope the players can focus on getting fifth place,” he said in a video shared by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation. – Bernama, June 9, 2023
