JAKARTA: Malaysia gave too much space to South Korea and went down 2-1 in the Asia Cup hockey final at the GBK Stadium in Jakarta today.
It was Malaysia's second silver medal in the continental tournament and for South Korea, it was their fifth gold since 1982.
Malaysia coach Arul Selvaraj said: "My players were always a metre away and two seconds slower than the Koreans. Their experienced players made the difference in this match."
Razie Rahim was totally blocked out by the Koreans in the penalty corners, and for Malaysia, the loss in the final was also their first defeat in the Asia Cup in Jakarta.
"We will be back for the Asian Games to get a ticket to the Paris Olympics," promised Arul.
South Korea coach Shin Seok Kyo also has plans for the Asian Games. "We will add in a few younger players and maintain the experienced ones, and our target is to win the Asian Games gold," said Seok Kyo.
Only the gold medallists at the Asian Games qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
It was a jittery start for Malaysia as they let South Korea score a penalty corner goal in the 17th minute off a field attempt from Jung Man Jae.
But Malaysia fought back and levelled through Syafiq Syed Cholan with a stunning field goal in the 25th minute. The score remained until half-time.
Korean Hwang Taeil scored the winner in the 52nd minute off a counter attack, and even though goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman saved a penalty stroke after that, Malaysia could not find the equaliser.
Malaysia have been playing in the Asia Cup for the last 40 years since its debut in 1982, and the closest they got to gold was in 2017 in Dhaka, losing 2-1 to India in the final.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal flew in for the final, and received the AHF Order of Merit from the Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Hockey Federation, Datuk Tayyab Ikram for his contribution to Malaysian hockey.