KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, the second-highest ranked team in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT), failed miserably in Inner Mongolia, China, as they missed out on the semi-finals.
World No. 13 Malaysia were handed a top-four target but will now be fighting for pride, hoping to avoid finishing last when they face Japan in the fifth-place playoff on Monday.
Sarjit Singh's side could have secured a semi-final spot had they defeated South Korea in their final round-robin match today.
Leading 3-2, Malaysia conceded an equaliser in the final seconds, allowing Korea to secure a 3-3 draw and a place in the semi-finals.
Malaysia's fate then rested on Japan defeating China, but the hosts went on to win 2-0, sealing their spot in the last four.
World No. 5 India, who topped the six-team round-robin competition, will face third-placed Korea in the semi-finals, while second-placed Pakistan will take on fourth-placed China on Monday.
Malaysia finished fifth with five points, recording one win, two draws, and two defeats.
This marks the first time since the ACT's inception in Ordos, China, in 2011, that Malaysia have failed to finish on the podium.
The Speedy Tigers won bronze in the first five editions and withdrew from the 2021 edition in Dhaka due to Covid-19.
Last year in Chennai, Malaysia reached the final for the first time before losing 4-3 to India.