KUALA LUMPUR: National men’s five-a-side hockey team head coach Wallace Tan has praised his side for finishing as runners-up in the inaugural Hockey5s World Cup 2024, after losing 5-2 to the Netherlands in the final on Wednesday night (early Thursday morning in Malaysia).
He said his men gave it their all in the final in Muscat, Oman but admitted that the Dutch, who came into the tournament as European champions, were the better side.
“For the World Cup stage, this is the highest and best achievement for Malaysian hockey. I wish to thank all Malaysians for their support,” he said in a video clip that the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) shared with the media.
Wallace hopes that they will continue to give their full backing to his men despite the team falling short in Oman.
Malaysia began their Group D campaign with a 3-3 draw with hosts Oman before edging the United States 3-2 and trouncing Fiji 8-3 to advance to the quarter-finals.
The national team, who finished as Group D runners-up, then defeated Group C champions Trinidad and Tobago 5-4 in the last eight before marching into the final with a 4-3 victory over Poland in the last four. – BERNAMA
