KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president, Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal believes that this year’s Nations Cup will see a higher turnout than in past tournaments, thanks to the strong performances of the Speedy Tigers at the ongoing Korean Tour.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference today, Subahan said that fans have responded positively after Sarjit Singh’s team recently defeated South Korea during their current friendly tour.
The national men’s hockey team defeated world number 14 South Korea 4-1 in their second friendly match at the Jincheon Training Centre on Thursday. The team, led by Sarjit, had also won the first friendly against the same opponents with a score of 4-1 on Wednesday.
“Fans are drawn to the stadium when a team is performing well, and our team has been showing some strong results, which has led to positive fan engagement.
“During the Junior World Cup we hosted in 2023, attendance was high in the early days thanks to our good performance. If we keep up this momentum, we can expect more fans to come out and support us.
“The national senior team is doing well and is fully utilising the Korean tour to aim for a spot in the semi-finals.
“Given their current form, I’m confident that many fans will come to cheer for the Speedy Tigers at the stadium,” Subahan said at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium earlier today.
Subahan mentioned that preparations for the Nations Cup are progressing well, thanks to the full support of various authorities, including the Malaysian Stadium Corporation and the police.
He also noted that meetings will be held in the coming weeks with the tournament organising committee to ensure an excellent matchday experience for both local and visiting fans.
The Nations Cup is scheduled to take place at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium, which has a capacity of 12,000, from June 15 to 21.
Malaysia is in Pool B with Pakistan, New Zealand, and Japan, while Pool A includes France, South Korea, South Africa, and Wales. – May 24, 2025