KUALA LUMPUR – National junior hockey head coach Nor Saiful Zaini admits it will be really challenging for his boys to progress beyond the group stage of the upcoming Junior World Cup in India.
His response came after Malaysia were drawn into a daunting Group E alongside three formidable European sides — the Netherlands, England, and Austria, scheduled to run from November 28 to December 10 in Chennai and Madurai.
Speaking to Scoop, Nor Saiful said the draw was among the toughest possible, given the pedigree of the teams involved.
“We’re in what is arguably the toughest group, with top European sides like the Netherlands and England, who are among the best in the world.
“Even Austria, who have undergone a long development process, are no pushovers. Our senior team only narrowly beat them 5-4 recently, so that says a lot about their standard,” Nor Saiful said when contacted.
Despite the odds stacked against his squad, Nor Saiful made it clear that the team are not heading to India merely to make up the numbers.
“We’re not going there to get hammered. We know the challenge is steep, but this tournament isn’t just about results.
“Our main objectives are to gain international experience and give our players a chance to prove themselves for future senior national selection. That’s what this journey is really about.”
Malaysia finished 12th out of 16 teams at the previous Junior World Cup, hosted on home soil in Bukit Jalil in 2023.
This time, with 24 teams divided into six groups, only the top two from each group, plus the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout rounds, making the pathway to the quarter-finals even more challenging.
Still, Nor Saiful believes the experience will be invaluable for the Young Tigers’ long-term development.
“This level of exposure is exactly what our boys need. Competing against the best in the world will not only test their skill but also their mental strength and character.”
The 2025 edition of the Junior World Cup promises to be the most competitive yet, with defending champions Germany drawn in Group A, and other past winners such as India, Argentina, and Australia spread across the groups.
Germany, South Africa, Canada and Ireland are in Group A, while Group B consists of two-time champions India, former champions Pakistan, Chile and Switzerland.
Two-time champions Argentina, New Zealand, Japan and China are in Group C, while Spain, Belgium, Egypt and Namibia make up Group D.
Former champions Australia, along with France, South Korea and Bangladesh, are drawn in Group F. — June 29, 2025