KUALA LUMPUR: The Young Tigers played one of their best matches against defending champions India before going down 3-1 in the semi-finals of the Junior Asia Cup (JAC) at Oman Hockey Stadium in Muscat on Tuesday.
It was India's 12th win over Malaysia in 16 meetings since the 1979 Junior World Cup in Spain.
India will face nemeses Pakistan in the final. In the last four, Pakistan outplayed Japan 4-2.
Malaysia will face Japan for third placing.
Malaysia started off well in the first quarter by earning two penalty corners, but failed to convert.
India, however, took the lead through Dilraj Singh from close range in the 10th minute.
India got two more goals through Rohit off a penalty corner in the 45th minute and Sharda Nand Tiwari through another penalty corner in the 53rd minute.
Malaysia managed to pull one back through a penalty stroke by Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin in the 57th minute.
Malaysia coach I. Vickneswaran said his boys played well against India but just could not get the goals.
"We had more ball possession and also earned a lot of penalty corners, but it was unfortunate that we could not convert them.
"Goalkeeper Rafaizul Saini also played well to make a number of saves.