Kakamigahara, Japan – 2 June 2026
Day 5 of the Men’s and Women’s U18 Asia Cup 2026 delivered three important matches as teams continued their pursuit of semi-final qualification in Kakamigahara, Japan.
Malaysia, Korea and Japan emerged victorious on a day that had significant implications for the standings in both competitions.
Men’s U18 Asia Cup
Malaysia produced a strong second-half performance to defeat China 3-0 in Pool B.
After a goalless first half, Malaysia found another gear after the break, scoring three unanswered goals to secure an important victory and strengthen their position in the race for a semi-final berth. Mohammad Nor Shahir was named Player of the Match following an outstanding display.
Later in the day, hosts Japan continued their impressive campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Korea in Pool A.
Japan raced into a 4-1 lead by half-time and controlled the match throughout the second half to remain unbeaten in the tournament. Goalkeeper NAKAMURA Yamato earned Player of the Match honours after a composed and influential performance.
Women’s U18 Asia Cup
Korea secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Malaysia in a crucial Pool A contest.
A solitary goal proved enough to separate the two sides in a tightly contested encounter, with Korea producing a disciplined defensive display to secure all three points. KWON HAYEON was named Player of the Match for her outstanding contribution.
Day 5 Results
Men’s U18 Asia Cup
- Malaysia 3-0 China
- Japan 4-1 Korea
Women’s U18 Asia Cup
- Malaysia 0-1 Korea
Players of the Match
Men’s U18 Asia Cup
- Mohammad Nor Shahir (Malaysia)
- NAKAMURA Yamato (GK) (Japan)
Women’s U18 Asia Cup
- KWON HAYEON (Korea)
With only a handful of pool matches remaining, the race for qualification to the semi-finals is becoming increasingly competitive as teams prepare for the decisive final rounds.
📺 Fans can watch all matches, highlights, interviews and exclusive content on the official Asian Hockey YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/@official_asian_hockey
