KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia hockey captain Muhamad Marhan Mohd Jalil has one final chance to erase the pain of two previous Asian Games final defeats when the Speedy Tigers face defending champions India in the gold-medal showdown at Gifu Stadium tomorrow.
Having featured in Malaysia’s finals at the 2010 Guangzhou and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, Marhan knows exactly what is at stake as he prepares to walk out for his third Asian Games final.
The 36-year-old is determined to ensure there is no repeat of the heartbreak suffered in the previous two editions, with victory over India not only delivering Malaysia’s first Asian Games hockey gold since 2010 but also securing automatic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Malaysia’s first disappointment came in Guangzhou, where the Speedy Tigers lost 2-0 to Pakistan in the final.
Eight years later, they suffered an even more agonising defeat in Jakarta-Palembang after surrendering a 5-2 lead against Japan before being held to a 6-6 draw and eventually losing 3-1 in the penalty shoot-out.
That defeat also cost Malaysia a direct route to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, making tomorrow’s final another opportunity for the team to secure its place on the Olympic stage.
Marhan hopes the lessons from those painful experiences will serve as motivation rather than a burden as Malaysia seek to finish the job this time.
"After reaching the final three times, including this one, I hope this will be the best opportunity for the Malaysian hockey team.
"We have experienced the disappointment before, so I hope we can use those experiences as motivation and fight until the final whistle to bring home the gold medal," Marhan told Scoop when contacted.
The national captain acknowledged that India possess an edge in terms of individual skills and experience in high-intensity competitions such as the FIH Pro League, but believes Malaysia can overcome those differences through discipline, energy and intensity.
Marhan also pointed to Malaysia’s victory over India in the semi-finals of the 2018 Asian Games as proof that the defending champions are not unbeatable.
"We know about the individual skills of the Indian players and they have also gained a lot of exposure by playing in high-intensity tournaments such as the Pro League.
"But I believe we can put them under pressure. If we can maintain our energy and intensity throughout the match, it is not impossible to beat them.
"We have beaten India before in Palembang, so there is no reason why we cannot do it again. We just need to believe in ourselves, stick to our plan and make sure we take our chances when they come," he said.
Malaysia booked their place in the final after edging South Korea 2-1 in yesterday’s semi-final, while India survived a seven-goal thriller against Pakistan, winning 4-3.
With India widely regarded as the stronger side on paper, Marhan believes Malaysia can use their underdog status to their advantage, particularly with the pressure firmly on the defending champions.
"I feel we will be playing without too much pressure because the pressure is more on India. That can work in our favour if we stay focused.
"I hope every player can carry out the game plan, play with confidence and show a strong desire to win. We have come this far and we do not want to waste this opportunity," he added.
For Marhan, tomorrow’s final represents more than another chance at Asian Games glory.
It is an opportunity to finally rewrite a chapter of disappointment that has followed him through two previous finals and, at the same time, help Malaysia secure a direct ticket to Los Angeles. - October 2, 2026
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