Kakamigahara, Japan – 31 May 2026
Day 3 of the Men’s and Women’s U18 Asia Cup 2026 delivered another thrilling round of action, with six matches producing 33 goals and several important results that strengthened the race for semi-final qualification.
India, Malaysia, China and Japan were among the teams celebrating crucial victories, while Japan and China shared the points in a highly anticipated Women’s Pool B clash.
## Women’s U18 Asia Cup
India produced an impressive performance to defeat Korea 3-1 in Pool A, securing a second consecutive victory in the competition. EKKA Kiran was named Player of the Match following a standout display that helped India move to the top of the standings.
Malaysia responded strongly after their opening defeat, recording a dominant 13-0 victory over Singapore. SHAMSUDIN Nurfitrah earned Player of the Match honours after playing a key role in Malaysia’s commanding performance.
The final match of the day saw hosts Japan and China battle to a 2-2 draw in Pool B. In a contest featuring two of the tournament favourites, both sides demonstrated their quality and shared the points after an entertaining encounter. SEKIGUCHI Yuno was named Player of the Match.
## Men’s U18 Asia Cup
China staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Bangladesh 3-2 in Pool B. After trailing at half-time, the Chinese side showed resilience and determination to overturn the deficit and secure an important victory. ZHANG Youwei was named Player of the Match.
Malaysia followed with another dramatic result, edging Pakistan 3-2 in a thrilling contest. GUNASEELAN Dheeressh delivered an outstanding performance to help Malaysia claim all three points and maintain momentum in Pool B.
The day’s final men’s fixture saw Japan overcome India 4-2 in a high-quality Pool A clash. Captain YOSHIOKA Mahiro led by example and was named Player of the Match as Japan secured a significant victory in front of the home crowd.
## Day 3 Results
### Women’s U18 Asia Cup
– Korea 1-3 India
– Malaysia 13-0 Singapore
– Japan 2-2 China
### Men’s U18 Asia Cup
– Bangladesh 2-3 China
– Pakistan 2-3 Malaysia
– Japan 4-2 India
## Players of the Match
### Women’s U18 Asia Cup
– EKKA Kiran (India)
– SHAMSUDIN Nurfitrah (Malaysia)
– SEKIGUCHI Yuno (Japan)
### Men’s U18 Asia Cup
– ZHANG Youwei (China)
– GUNASEELAN Dheeressh (Malaysia)
– YOSHIOKA Mahiro (Japan)
With the group stage entering a decisive phase, every point is becoming increasingly valuable as teams continue their pursuit of a place in the semi-finals.
Fans can watch all matches live and catch up on highlights, interviews and exclusive content via the official Asian Hockey YouTube channel:
📺 http://www.youtube.com/@official_asian_hockey
