Sultan of Johor Cup 2026: Naaveennash double sends Young Tigers into first final since 2013

Malaysia's Young Tigers are into the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup for the first time since 2013. The national under-21 hockey side fought back from 2-1 down to beat Pakistan 3-2 at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru on Wednesday night, with T. Naaveennash Panicker scoring twice, including the winner three minutes from time.

How the match unfolded

According to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation's official match record, Naaveennash opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a field goal. Pakistan then took control through Adeel, who struck twice, in the 36th and 43rd minutes, to put the visitors ahead going into the final quarter.

The turning point came in the 51st minute, when Pakistan's Waleed Rana was shown a red card. Dawn reported that Pakistan picked up further cards in the closing stages. Malaysia took advantage: Muhammad Safwan Salihe levelled the score in the 55th minute and Naaveennash, named man of the match, finished off the comeback in the 57th minute, with a reverse hit according to Johor state media.

Goalkeeper Adib Amsyar Hanif also played a key part. Before Malaysia had scored, he saved a penalty corner early in the game and then a penalty stroke from Rana in the 12th minute, keeping the hosts level during Pakistan's strong opening spell.

Three wins from three

The victory was Malaysia's third in a row at the tournament. They had beaten Japan 4-2 the day before and opened with a 3-0 win, leaving them unbeaten at the top of the five-team table and assured of a place in Saturday's title match.

The win was especially satisfying given recent history. Malaysia lost twice to Pakistan at the Junior Asia Cup in China earlier this year, so beating them on home turf showed real progress for this group.

What the coaches said

Head coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin told RTM that the match was a valuable experience for his young players, particularly in improving their penalty corner execution and handling pressure. He said Pakistan going down a player opened up room for Malaysia to keep attacking.

Pakistan manager Ayaz Mahmood admitted his side wasted many chances in the first half, and said Malaysia had played well and in a structured way.

Final on Saturday

The round-robin was due to conclude with Malaysia playing Canada on Friday, after which Malaysia's opponent in the final will be confirmed. Pakistan and Japan were the main contenders for the other spot at the time of writing. The final is scheduled for Saturday, 24 October, at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, the last day of the 17-24 October tournament.

Malaysia have won the Sultan of Johor Cup once before, in 2011. A home title on Saturday would be the country's first since then and a strong boost for the junior programme heading into the next cycle of international competitions.

Key takeaways

• Malaysia beat Pakistan 3-2 to reach their first Sultan of Johor Cup final since 2013.
• T. Naaveennash Panicker scored in the 21st and 57th minutes; Safwan Salihe equalised in the 55th.
• Goalkeeper Adib Amsyar Hanif saved an early penalty stroke.
• Malaysia have won all three matches, including a 4-2 win over Japan.
• The final is on Saturday, 24 October, in Johor Bahru.

FAQ

When is the Sultan of Johor Cup 2026 final? The final is on Saturday, 24 October, at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru.

Who scored for Malaysia against Pakistan? T. Naaveennash Panicker scored twice and Muhammad Safwan Salihe scored once.

Have Malaysia won the Sultan of Johor Cup before? Yes. Malaysia won the under-21 tournament in 2011, and this is their first final since 2013.

Sources: Bernama, Malaysian Hockey Confederation, Dawn, RTM, Media Digital Johor, The Sun