Johor Cup starts today: Pakistan v China first, Japan v Canada after

No more build-up. It starts today.

Pakistan v China opens the Sultan of Johor Cup at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium this afternoon, 2:05pm Pakistan time. Japan v Canada follows at 4:35pm PKT. Five teams, eight days, and a junior tournament that keeps producing senior internationals.

Pakistan want the one thing they haven’t won here

Pakistan have never lifted this trophy. Runners-up in 2016, that’s their best. According to reporting in Malaysia this week, their coach rates hosts Malaysia as the biggest threat to changing that, home crowd and all.

There’s a reason for the confidence, though. Most of Pakistan’s Junior Asia Cup squad from China has been kept together. That group beat Malaysia 5-2 in the groups there and 4-2 in the bronze match, and it banked Pakistan a place at next year’s Junior World Cup along the way.

China first is no gentle start, mind you. Lose today and the week gets long very quickly.

Canada are here to learn the hard way

Canada’s juniors have said it straight: they don’t see many teams like this at home. Josiah Campbell and his teammates get Pakistan, China and Japan in one week, sides that play fast, technical hockey, nothing like their usual Pan Am opponents.

That’s exactly why they’re here. This week is prep for the 2027 Junior World Cup, and the results matter less than finding out whether they can live at this pace. Their last game of the week is the big one on paper, Malaysia in prime time on 23 October.

Today, then tomorrow

Malaysia, the hosts, sit out day one. Their target for the week, as reported in Malaysia, is a top-three finish, and they’ll fancy their chances of going further than that at home.

Tomorrow it’s Pakistan v Canada at 2:05pm PKT and Malaysia v China in the evening game. Win today, and Pakistan walk into that Canada match with the week already tilting their way.

Streaming note for fans in Pakistan: there’s still no confirmed international stream for this tournament. The official broadcaster is Sukan RTM in Malaysia, with RTMKlik streaming inside Malaysia only. If a worldwide link is confirmed, we’ll pin it. Don’t trust unofficial links asking for logins or payment.

Today’s fixtures (Sat 17 Oct, PKT): Pakistan v China, 2:05pm PKT (5:05pm local) · Japan v Canada, 4:35pm PKT (7:35pm local), Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bahru.