KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The national women’s hockey squad began their 2023 Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) challenge in Ranchi, India, on a sour note, as they lost 0 – 3 to Japan today.
In the action at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium, the ‘Malaysian Tigress’ went behind in the first quarter of the match after Rika Ogawa converted from a penalty corner in the 13th minute.
After a goalless second quarter, Japan scored their second through a Mai Toriyama field goal in the 43rd minute and sealed the game six minutes from full-time as Shiho Kobayakawa scored from another penalty corner.
The national team, guided by Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim, will meet hosts India in the second match of the round-robin tomorrow (October 28), before taking on South Korea (October 30), China (October 31), and Thailand (November 2).
Only the top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals scheduled to take place on November 4, while the final will be on November 5.
Malaysia’s best achievement in the Women’s ACT tournament has been to finish third during the 2013 edition in Kakamigahara, Japan.
— Bernama
