KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s junior hockey team may still be awaiting the official draw for the Junior Asia Cup (JAC) in Moqi, China, from September 4-13, but head coach Nor Saiful Zaini is already setting his sights firmly on a semi-final finish.
The stakes are high, as the top six teams from the tournament will qualify for the 2027 Junior World Cup, with the host nation yet to be announced.
Speaking to Scoop, Nor Saiful stressed that Malaysia’s objectives will not hinge on the group stage outcome.
“The MHL is giving us the intensity and match exposure we need, especially against senior and foreign players,” he said.
Defending champions India, alongside Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, China, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Oman, and Thailand, are confirmed participants in the competition. Malaysia narrowly missed the podium at the last edition in Muscat, Oman, in 2024, finishing fourth behind India, Pakistan, and South Korea.
The current squad consists of 28 players, most of whom represent TNB Thunderbolts in the ongoing Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), while others gain valuable minutes with Tenaga Nasional and Maybank. Nor Saiful underlined the importance of this domestic exposure in preparing for international competition.
“We are looking at the bigger picture with this group,” he said. “Results like drawing 1-1 with last year’s treble winners Terengganu and beating Australia’s Territory Stingers 3-2 show that the boys are learning to compete at a higher level.”
The remaining MHL matches will continue to serve as a platform for refinement. “We still have eight matches left in the MHL, and every game is an opportunity for us to improve our structure, decision-making and consistency,” Nor Saiful noted. “At the same time, we are also planning to arrange around 25 quality matches in total before the Junior Asia Cup. That is the standard we feel is necessary if we want to compete with the best teams in Asia.”
He added that further international tours are in the pipeline to enhance the team’s experience. “We are looking at a European tour in July, and after that we are considering another trip, either to Australia or China,” he said. “These tours are not just about playing matches, but about exposing the players to different playing styles, different levels of physicality, and different game management situations. That is crucial for their development.”
Historically, Malaysia have a mixed record at the Junior Asia Cup, having won the title in Melaka in 2012, finished as runners-up in 1992, and secured third place in 2000. The women’s team, meanwhile, finished fifth in the 2024 edition, which was sufficient to guarantee qualification for the next Junior World Cup cycle.
For Nor Saiful, the focus remains firmly on the men’s team’s ambitions. “If we want to be consistent at world level, we cannot just aim to qualify,” he said. “We must aim to compete for medals. That is why I am setting the semi-final target, regardless of who we draw. If we can reach that stage, it means we are on the right path in terms of mentality, preparation and execution.” - May 10, 2026
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