Speedy Tigers get RM160,000 for Asian Games hockey silver as Asian Champions Trophy in India looms
The MHC paid RM160,000 to 20 players and eight officials for the Aichi-Nagoya silver. Next up is the Asian Champions Trophy in India from 27 October.
Malaysia's national men's hockey team, the Speedy Tigers, have been paid RM160,000 for winning silver at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) handed over the incentive at a dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported on Wednesday, 14 October. The team now has little time before two more tournaments: the Asian Champions Trophy in India later this month, followed by the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in November.
RM160,000 shared by players and officials
The reward covers 20 players and eight team officials. Reports of the presentation gave only the total and did not say how it is split. The silver was the men's team's third at the Asian Games, after Guangzhou 2010 and Jakarta-Palembang 2018.
MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal credited teamwork, discipline and sacrifice for the result. He called the medal "a source of pride for Malaysia" and the wider hockey community. He also thanked Tenaga Nasional Berhad, the confederation's main sponsor.
How the Asian Games campaign ended
Malaysia played well throughout the tournament in Japan. They won all five pool matches, scoring 34 goals and conceding four, and then reached the final. There they met defending champions India at Gifu on Saturday, 3 October, and lost 5-1.
The final carried more than a gold medal. As Bernama noted after the Games, the defeat also cost Malaysia an automatic place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The MHC says that makes next year's Olympic qualifying campaign a priority, and it has promised to step up preparations.
Next stop: Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab
The Speedy Tigers' next tournament is the Men's Asian Champions Trophy. It runs from 27 October to 5 November in Mohali and Jalandhar, in the Indian state of Punjab. The event brings together six of Asia's top teams, with India defending the title they won in 2024 by beating China 1-0 in the final.
Subahan has challenged the players and coaching staff, led by Brendon Carolan, to beat India in their own country. It would be a tough task less than a month after the Asian Games final, but it offers a quick chance at revenge.
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh to close the year
After returning from India, Malaysia host the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from 20 to 28 November. The six-team field is Malaysia, Australia, South Africa, Canada, South Korea and the United States.
The two tournaments give Carolan's squad a busy block of high-level matches before the 2027 Olympic qualifying events. The home event in Ipoh is also a chance for Malaysian fans to see the Asian Games silver medallists play in person.
Key takeaways
- The MHC paid RM160,000 to 20 players and eight officials for the Asian Games men's hockey silver.
- It was Malaysia's third Asian Games silver in men's hockey, after 2010 and 2018.
- Malaysia won all five pool matches in Japan before losing 5-1 to India in the final on 3 October.
- The Asian Champions Trophy runs from 27 October to 5 November in Mohali and Jalandhar, India.
- Malaysia host the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from 20 to 28 November.
FAQ
How much did the Speedy Tigers receive for their Asian Games silver? A total of RM160,000 from the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, shared among 20 players and eight team officials.
When is the 2026 Men's Asian Champions Trophy? It runs from 27 October to 5 November 2026 in Mohali and Jalandhar, India.
Which teams are playing at the 2026 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup? Hosts Malaysia, Australia, South Africa, Canada, South Korea and the United States. The tournament takes place in Ipoh from 20 to 28 November.
Sources: Bernama, RTM, Hockey India, USA Field Hockey