Hockey Asia Cup 2025: Korea keeps title defence alive with comeback win against Malaysia; Kazakhstan ends campaign ona high

It was a goal fest on the penultimate day of the Asia Cup 2025.

With 13 goals scored by four teams across two matches, the nets were bulging ahead of the final Super 4s showdown between India and China. Korea edged Malaysia in a nail-biting finish, while Kazakhstan secured a 7th-place finish by overcoming Chinese Taipei.

Desperate to stay alive in the tournament, both Korea and Malaysia entered their final Super 4s match on a razor’s edge. The defending champion Korea was reeling from a stunning loss to China after a 2-2 draw with India, while Malaysia had been handily beaten by India 4-1. With a spot in the final on the line, the pressure was immense.

The Koreans came out with urgency, but it was Malaysia — the “banana-skin team” — that drew first blood. The returning Fitri Saari, back from a one-match ban, put his team ahead early, and by half-time, Malaysia had a 2-1 lead. It widened the gap even further just a minute into the third quarter, making it 3-1.

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It looked like the end of the road for the defending champion. Yet, with its back against the wall, Taeseok Min’s squad found a spark and ignited the fire. It immediately upped its intensity, pushing into the circle and finding a much-needed goal in the 44th minute.

The last 15 minutes were a masterclass in determination. In a breathtaking 54-second span, Jungjun Lee and Hyeonhong Kim scored — one from open play and the other from a short corner — to give Korea a narrow 4-3 lead. Malaysia threw everything it had at the Koreans, earning three penalty corners in the final nine minutes, but its efforts were in vain. With an incredible display of grit, Korea held on, keeping its title defence hopes alive.

Earlier in the day, Kazakhstan achieved the tournament’s biggest upset by defeating Chinese Taipei, which is ranked 43 places higher, to secure seventh place. The Kazakh team, which had only scored two goals in the entire tournament before Saturday’s clash, found the back of the net six times.

Heading into this showdown, the Kazakhs had scored a mere two goals across the entire tournament. But on the day, they unleashed a storm. It was a finale neither team wanted, with both having lost their previous matches, yet the desire to finish on a high note was palpable from the opening whistle.

Agymtay Duisengazy (centre) was a force of nature, single-handedly scoring five goals and assisting another to seal a 6-4 victory for his team.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

The tension was immediate. Animosity simmered between the two sides, with tackles flying and tempers flaring. For a time, Chinese Taipei seemed to have the upper hand, with Tsung-Yu Hsieh’s masterful hat-trick putting it in a strong position. But as the match reached its boiling point after being poised at 3-3 at half-time, one player refused to be denied.

The match, and indeed the dramatic comeback, belonged to Agymtay Duisengazy. He was a force of nature, single-handedly scoring five goals and assisting another to seal a 6-4 victory for his team. His heroics were the final word in a heated contest that saw both sides concede penalty strokes. It was Duisengazy who seized the moment, ensuring his team ended its tournament on a high note.

This victory was more than just a 7th-place finish; it was sweet revenge. The Kazakhs had suffered a painful 7-1 defeat at the hands of Taipei in the AFH Cup 2025 semifinals, a loss that had cost them an automatic spot in the Asia Cup. Today, in a thrilling reversal of fortunes, it finally found redemption, turning the tables on its old rivals.

After the match, the entire team waited as Duisengazy collected his Man of the Match award at the presentation ceremony before celebrating extensively with his teammates.

“It was revenge. We all cried that night in Indonesia, but today, we’re happy. This is the best day of my career,” said Duisengazy, tears streaming down his face as he spoke through assistant coach Lenur Vishnyakov.

Published on Sep 06, 2025