Malaysia Tigers and Malaysia Speedy clinched the men’s gold and bronze medals respectively at the conclusion of the 3rd Mirnawan Cup NHDP tournament at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
The Tigers defeated South Korea 3-2 in the final, courtesy of team captain Muhammad Safwan’s 56th minute penalty corner conversion that led to a victory after both teams were tied at 2-2four minutes into the fourth quarter.
Korea led 1-0 on the seventh minute throughChoe Dohyeon’s penalty corner, but a brace from Aferull Syah from a field goal (38th) and penalty corner (48th) lifted the Tigers to a 2-1 lead.
Dohyeon, however, brought the Koreans back into the match with a penalty corner conversion in the 49th minute to level the score at 2-2 before Safwan found the Tigers’ winning goal four minutes to the end of regulation time.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Speedy crushed Austria’s hopes with a 6-2 victory to claim the bronze medal. Speedy led 3-1 by the third quarter and added three more goals in the fourth. Gagandeep Singh (37th, 50th), Amran KashimiAhmad Kamal (36th), Mohammad Nor Shahir (42nd), Ezrien Aidil Hakim (49th), and team captain Dheeressh Gunaseelan (60th) scored goals.
Tobias Terler (53rd) and Arthur Kucera (59th) scored for Austria.
In the women’s final, Japan defeated Queensland 3-2 to claim the gold medal. Team captain Kokona Tanaka and Mami Nakano gave the Japanese a 2-0 lead with goals in the ninth and 11th minutes but Caitlyn Halliday (21st) pulled one back for Queensland.
Miyu Yamada, however, extended Japan’s leadto 3-1 in the 36th minute via a field goal. The Australians came back strongly two minutes later and reduced the deficit to 2-3 through Aryel Bisseling’s field goal but a defiant Japanese defence held tightly to their game till the end of regulation time to taste victory.
In the third and fourth place matches, South Korea defeated South Africa 4-3 for the bronze medal.