Did India Triumph Over Malaysia to Reach the Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 Final?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India defeated Malaysia 2-1.
- Gurjot Singh opened the scoring for India.
- Sourabh Anand Kushwaha scored the winning goal.
- India will face Australia in the final.
- The match showcased India's attacking style and defensive resilience.
Johor (Malaysia), Oct 17 (NationPress) The Indian junior men’s hockey team showcased an impressive performance, defeating Malaysia with a score of 2-1 in their last pool-stage encounter of the ongoing Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 in Johor, Malaysia, on Friday. This victory propels India into the final, where they will compete against Australia.
India initiated the scoring with Gurjot Singh finding the net at the 22nd minute, while Sourabh Anand Kushwaha sealed the win with a goal in the 48th minute. For Malaysia, Naaveenesh Panicker scored in the 43rd minute.
With their sights set on final qualification, the Indian junior team started strong against Malaysia. The Indian forwards displayed sharpness and relentless attacking, applying pressure on the home team. However, Malaysia did not back down and attempted counterattacks, but India's defense stood firm. The first quarter ended without any goals, both teams heading into the break at 0-0.
Malaysia launched the first attack of the second quarter, but India quickly retaliated with multiple attempts, even hitting the crossbar. Eventually, India's persistence paid off; Gurjot Singh capitalized on a rebound from a Penalty Corner to score at the 22nd minute. From that point, India dominated possession while Malaysia struggled to keep up, closing the first half with a 1-0 advantage for India.
Post-break, India began the third quarter with high energy, but Malaysia started to mount a comeback. Although India maintained control for most of the quarter, Malaysia equalized with just over two minutes remaining when Naaveenesh Panicker scored, bringing the score to 1-1 and setting the stage for an exciting final quarter.
As the final quarter commenced, both teams exhibited great enthusiasm. India regained the lead as Sourabh Anand Kushwaha tapped in a close-range goal in the 48th minute, making it 2-1. Malaysia, desperate for an equalizer, launched several attacks, but India, known for their dominance in this competition, managed to hold their ground, claiming victory with a score of 2-1.
India's next challenge is against Australia on October 18th at 1805 hours IST.