KUALA LUMPUR – Former national men’s hockey captain Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi believes the Speedy Tigers have all the ingredients needed to reach the Asian Games final after an impressive run through the group stage.
Mirnawan, who represented Malaysia from 1989 to 2002, said Brendon Carolan’s side had hit their stride at the Aichi-Nagoya Games and should have enough firepower to overcome South Korea in Thursday’s semi-final.
He said Malaysia, ranked 14th in the world, could not have asked for a better route to the final after being drawn against 21st-ranked South Korea, who have emerged as surprise semi-finalists.
“Malaysia are in splendid form and have shown throughout the group stage that they are capable of competing at the highest level. They scored 34 goals and conceded only four in five matches, which is a very strong indication that the team are on the right track.
“We were expecting Malaysia to face either India or Japan in the semi-finals, but Korea fought hard to get here. On paper, Malaysia may be the higher-ranked team, but that means nothing once the whistle goes.
“That said, I believe Malaysia could not have asked for a better opponent at this stage, and this is a good opportunity for the players to continue their momentum and book their place in the final,” he told Scoop when contacted.
South Korea stunned Japan 3-2 in their group match to secure their place in the last four, joining defending champions India, who will face arch-rivals Pakistan in the other semi-final.
Mirnawan said Malaysia’s attacking strength could prove decisive, with veteran forward Faizal Saari leading the team’s scoring charts with nine goals.
“Faizal has been outstanding, while Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal and Akhimullah Anuar Esook have also been in top form. The forwards have been delivering when it matters, and that is exactly what you want going into a semi-final.
“I hope they can maintain the same level of confidence and composure because scoring goals will be crucial. If Malaysia can convert their opportunities and remain disciplined, I believe they have a very good chance of reaching the final,” he said.
However, Mirnawan cautioned the Speedy Tigers against underestimating a Korean side that has already shown it can upset the odds.
“Korea cannot be taken lightly. They have proved that they are a quality team by fighting their way into the semi-finals, and anything can happen in a knockout match.
“They are known for their never-say-die attitude, so Malaysia must be prepared for a tough battle from the first minute until the final whistle. The players cannot afford to relax simply because Malaysia are the higher-ranked team,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of goalkeeper Zaimi Mat Deris, who kept clean sheets in four of Malaysia’s five group matches.
“Zaimi has done very well and he needs to be on his toes again against Korea. He has shown that he can make the important saves when the team needs him most.
“Against Pakistan, Malaysia conceded four goals but still managed to win 5-4, so the defence and goalkeeper will have to be especially alert this time. Korea are dangerous from penalty corners and Malaysia must make sure they do not give away unnecessary opportunities,” said Mirnawan.
Malaysia edged South Korea 2-1 in their most recent meeting at the Nations Cup in Cape Town, South Africa, in June, although the Koreans prevailed 4-3 when the sides met at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh last November.
Mirnawan said those previous encounters should serve as a reminder that the semi-final will require a complete performance from Malaysia.
“Malaysia have beaten Korea before, but Korea have also beaten us, so the players know exactly what they are capable of. The important thing is to focus on Thursday’s match and not what happened in the past.
“Malaysia have played very well in the group stage, and now they need to produce one more big performance. It would be fantastic to see this team reach the final after the way they have performed so far,” he said.
Malaysia last reached the Asian Games final in 2018 in Indonesia, where they finished runners-up, having also suffered silver-medal heartbreak at the 2010 Guangzhou Games.
The gold medallists in Aichi-Nagoya will also secure an automatic qualification berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. – September 29, 2026