Malaysia’s national women’s hockey team secured a place in the qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games after finishing fifth at the Asian Games for the fifth consecutive time. The team, known as the Speedy Tigresses, defeated Thailand 4-0 in the classification match held yesterday at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Japan.

The victory was built on early momentum, with Khairunnisa Ayuni Mohd Sharuddin scoring twice within the first 18 minutes. Nur Afiqah Syahzani Azha added a third goal in the 22nd minute before Nur Zariefah Dania Mazlan sealed the win with a strike in the 53rd minute.

National coach C. R. Kumar acknowledged the achievement of reaching the Olympic qualifiers but emphasized the need for continued improvement. He identified penalty corner conversion and defensive play as key areas requiring further development. Kumar also highlighted the team’s access to advanced video support and training facilities to enhance player performance moving forward.

“We have qualified for the Olympics qualifiers, and that was one of our targets,” Kumar said. “There are many areas to be improved, especially our penalty corner conversion and defence.” The team’s consistent placement outside the semifinal spots marks an ongoing challenge as they prepare for the next stage of international competition.