Asia Cup: Speedy Tigress Fight Back To Trounce Singapore To Finish Fifth, Again

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia fought back from a goal down to thrash Singapore 8-1 in the fifth-sixth placing playoff of the Women's Hockey Asia Cup in Hangzhou, China, today.

Nur Afiqah Syahzani Azhar and Nuramirah Shakirah Zulkifli stole the show with a brace each at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium as Malaysia finished fifth for the sixth time running.

Coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim's team, stunned by Cheryll Chia's fourth-minute penalty corner goal, simply regrouped and refocused, and the equaliser duly arrived in the 18th minute through a Nur Afiqah field goal.

That was the queue for a Malaysian onslaught as the Speedy Tigress trooped out at half-time 4-1 up, with Nurmaizatul Hanim Syafi Shiek Fuad scoring in the 32nd minute from a penalty corner set piece before Anith Humaira Baharudin (38th minute) and Nuramirah (39th minute) slotted home two quick penalty strokes.

The Speedy Tigress came back after the break to inflict more misery on Singapore with four more goals, courtesy of Nur Iman Adawiyah Mohd Suhaimi (45th minute), Nuramirah with her second of the day in the 46th minute, Nur Afiqah also with her second in the 51st minute and Nur Aisyah Che Musa a minute later.

Mohd Nasihin, though disappointed with their performance in the first and second quarters, was pleased to see them rattling in six goals in the third and fourth quarters.

"I think there are still many aspects we need to improve on, especially fitness, strength and technical skills.

"I've also told the players to give their best in training after this, no more complaining, just to go for it so we can go far," he said in a video clip shared by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to the media.

Malaysia had earlier completed their Group A campaign in third place with three points, thus failing to advance to the Super 4 round.

The Malaysian team's best-ever achievement in the Women's Hockey Asia Cup was a third placing in the inaugural edition in Seoul, South Korea, in 1985.

-- BERNAMA