MISERY FOR MALAYSIA

Japan deny World No 12 of an early Olympic ticket

THE national team will now go through a tougher Olympic qualifying process following the defeat to Japan in the Asian Games men’s final in Jakarta yesterday. After taking a 5-2 lead, Malaysia failed to maintain their composure as the World No 12 allowed Japan to claw back at 6-6 and then win the shootout 3-1.

Japan have now double qualified as hosts as well as Asian Games gold medallists.

The national players were impressive at the start with Razie Rahim giving them the lead in the fourth minute only for Japan to equalise through Tanaka Seren’s ninth minute effort.

Malaysia, however, regained their lead with reverse stick goals by forward Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin in the 11th and 12th minutes before Faizal Saari added the fourth in the 17th minute.

Japan reduced the gap through Tanaka Kenta in 22nd minute.

Malaysia settled down in the third quarter and even though Japan attacked relentlessly, the score stood and only 15 more minutes remained for a famous gold.

And just for good measure, Malaysia increased the gap in the 49th minute with a deft deflection from Amirol Aideed to make it 5-2.

Japan, however, did not give up and goals from Fukuda Kentaro (52nd), Tanaka Kenta (53rd) and Yamasaki Koji (58th) made it 5-5.

Razie then regained Malaysia’s lead in the 58th minute before Hiromasa Ochiai’s equalised with 17 seconds left on the clock to force the match into a penalty shootout.

“I am very proud of my players. They achieved something that was deemed impossible, and they will cherish this gold medal for the rest of their careers,” said Japan coach Siegfried Aikman.

“It is a rare feat as our women’s team also won the gold.”

RESULTS — Final: Malaysia 6 Japan 6 (Japan win 3-1 on shootout); Third-fourth: India 2 Pakistan 1; Fifth-sixth: South Korea 7 Bangladesh 0; Seventh-eighth: Hong Kong 2 Kazakhstan 2 (Kazakhstan win 3-2 on shootout).