ACT Day 1: Nine-Goal Thriller as Malaysia Edge China 5-4, Then Japan Beat Korea 3-2
Fourteen goals in two games. That’s how the Asian Champions Trophy started in Jalandhar, and honestly, the evening game has a lot to live up to.
Malaysia won the opener 5-4 against China, and it was the kind of game that had everything. Abu Kamal Azrai scored twice in the first 14 minutes, but China hit back both times. Yaqi Wang levelled in the 11th minute, Moda Ne put China ahead a minute later, and after Azrai and Akhimullah Anuar scored in the same 14th minute, Benhai Chen’s penalty corner made it 3-3. It stayed wild after the break. Faizal Saari converted a penalty stroke in the 34th minute, Azimuddin Kamaruddin added a penalty corner a minute later, and when Chen scored his second corner in the 44th minute, Malaysia had six minutes to survive. They did. Three points, top of the table, and a warning to everyone else that this tournament is not going to be quiet.
The Malaysian camp’s own coverage noted the Jalandhar heat took its toll on their rhythm, which makes the win more impressive, not less. Winning ugly in the heat on day one is exactly what tournament hockey is about.
Japan’s 3-2 win over South Korea was tighter, but just as good. Kentaro Fukuda put Japan ahead in the 14th minute, Han Sang-jun levelled from a penalty corner a minute later, and Ryoma Ooka restored Japan’s lead in the 36th. Kazumasa Matsumoto made it 3-1 in the 52nd minute, and he was named Hero of the Match for it. Korea kept coming, and Jeong Jun-seong’s penalty corner in the 59th minute set up a frantic last minute, but Japan held on. Two wins from two for the day’s winners, and Japan join Malaysia on three points at the top.
The table after day one reads: Malaysia 3 points, Japan 3, and everyone else yet to get going. Fourteen goals, two one-goal games, and a tournament that already feels alive.
Tonight is India’s turn. The opening ceremony runs from 5:00pm to 6:00pm PKT, and then India walk out against Bangladesh at 6:50pm PKT, the later start because of the ceremony. India’s other league games all start at 6:30pm PKT. Entry is free, the stands will be full, and after a day like this, nobody in Jalandhar will be leaving early.
Related links:
https://sportscursor.com/asian-champions-trophy-2026-day-1-malaysia-china-japan-korea-india-bangladesh-27-october-2026/
https://sportscursor.com/asian-champions-trophy-2026-opening-day-card-india-bangladesh-26-october-2026/
https://sportscursor.com/asian-champions-trophy-eve-harmanpreet-every-team-here-to-win-26-october-2026/
https://sportscursor.com/live/
