Speedy Tigers face tough Olympic qualifiers after Asiad final defeat

KUALA LUMPUR: The wait to feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics looks to be out of reach for the Speedy Tigers after failing to win Asian Games gold.

Brendon Carolan's men failed to deliver when it mattered most in the final against world No. 8 India in Gifu, Japan on Saturday in a 5-1 defeat.

It was the third time Malaysia reached the Asiad final after 2010 in Guangzhou and 2018 in Indonesia, and on all three occasions they ended up as silver medallists.

Eight-time Olympic champion India is the third team to qualify for the LA Olympics after the hosts, the United States, and FIH Pro League champions Belgium.

Former Olympian and World Cup player Maninderjit Singh said the goalkeeping and penalty corner defence department was poor against India.

"There was no power play when the team was trailing. The national team stands no chance in the Olympic qualifiers," he said.

Malaysia, ranked 14th in the world, will compete in the Olympic qualifier, which is scheduled for March 2028.

The top two teams from each qualifier will make the cut for the Olympics.

The qualifiers will be much tougher as Malaysia will play against stronger teams.

Malaysia last featured in the Olympics in 2000 in Sydney and will have to wait until the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

The biggest question is whether ageing players in the national team will still be playing for Malaysia in the 2028 Olympics qualifier.

Or will the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) build a new team?

The national team will arrive on Monday from Japan before featuring for their respective clubs in the second round of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).

MHL begins on Monday and finishes on Dec 6.

The national team are due to be competing in the six-nations Asian Champions Trophy in Jalandhar and Mohali in India from Oct 27 to Nov 5.

This will affect the clubs, as they won't have the services of national players for MHL.