Thundering Comebacks and Fiery Exchanges on Day 1 as the FIH Nations Cup Malaysia 2025 Begins

15 Jun, 2025 Under the unpredictable Kuala Lumpur skies, an exhilarating day of hockey opened the Nations Cup Malaysia 2025 with a storm of goals, comebacks and explosive contests that hinted at the fantastic competition that is to come. Twelve final-quarter goals, including five from France in their 6-5 comeback win over Korea, were a mark of the attacking firepower on display and a reminder of how desperate these nations are to earn that coveted prize of a spot in the FIH Pro League. Pool A saw two incredible comebacks: one earning France all three points over Korea to top the standings, and the other seeing South Africa forcibly take a point from a frustrated Wales side. After delays to the Pool B games due to lightning and rain, New Zealand belatedly began their title defence with a well-deserved 2-1 win over Asian Games champions Japan. Surrounded by raucous home support, Malaysia drew 3-3 with a fiery Pakistan side that may well be frustrated to not be matching the Blacksticks’ three points at the top of Pool B. France 6-5 Korea Opening Pool A, Korea started well against France, registering the first goal of the competition inside three minutes. A clinical press put the ball on the end of Jungjun Lee’s stick and the captain finished smartly. The French responded well, finding their way through the guts of the Korean defence before Xavier Esmenjaud equalised with a diving slap shot. The Koreans began the second quarter by registering a flurry of penalty corners before Jihun Yang flicked his side back into the lead. Dohyun Lim converted another corner minutes later, this time from the second castle. The second-half saw the French fall further behind. Korea won the ball high up the pitch and Cheoleon Park made it 4-1 before Yang scored his second to send his side 5-1 up going into the final quarter. Two minutes into the final period, France capitalised on a Korean blunder and Esmenjaud slapped in what appeared to be a consolation goal. However, when Victor Charlet rifled a penalty corner into the roof of the Korean net, the momentum shifted. With two minutes remaining, Esmenjaud improvised his way to a hat-trick and made it 5-4. Charlet won and scored a penalty stroke to equalise and, with four seconds remaining, Louis Haertelmeyer knocked in a rebound and completed an unbelievable comeback for France. From 5-1 down with 15 minutes left to play, the French scored five goals and earned a special three points in a memorable opening game of the Nations Cup. After Xavier Esmenjaud’s hat-trick earned him Player of the Match, he called it a “crazy game [and a] crazy experience”. “We were just focussed on getting to 5-2, then when it was 5-2, the third one, the fourth. The energy to come back, we were winning the duals – amazing.” South Africa 4-4 Wales On the other side of Pool A, Jack Pritchard opened the Welsh account five minutes in, scrapping the ball over the South African goal-line. Wales then beautifully manufactured their second, as a one-time slap into the circle found Joylon Morgan who expertly squeezed the ball over the keeper with just one hand on the stick. In the five minutes before half-time, Pritchard doubled the lead and claimed his hat-trick, putting Wales 4-0 up at the break.   With the first game a looming reminder that four goals isn’t a safe margin, Trevor de Lora found the net after three consecutive South African penalty corners to make it 4-1. Angelo Walstroom finished a smart South African move at the end of the third quarter to further panic Wales. As Victor Charlet had done earlier, Samkelo Mvimbi then won and fired home a penalty stroke with ten minutes left to play. With just ninety seconds remaining, Calvin Davis rocketed a drag flick into the bottom corner and earned South Africa a 4-4 draw that must have felt like a win. An understandably frustrated Jack Pritchard collected his well-deserved Player of the match award and said: “It was a good start in the first half, then we dropped off it slightly in the second and fair play to South Africa they really came back strong. So, disappointing not to hold on but not a bad start.” New Zealand 2-1 Japan As if Pool A wasn’t fast-paced enough, Japan began Pool B with a clinically quick counter-attack as Ryosuke Shinohara put his team 1-0 up inside five minutes. Just ninety seconds later, however, Sam Hiha drew New Zealand level. A back-foot shot squeezed past Takashi Yoshikawa in goal and launched a period of high-pressing domination for the reigning Nations Cup Champions. Japan remained resolute however, seeing off multiple Blackstick penalty corners and taking the game into the final quarter 1-1. After the games in Pool A, the lack of goals provided a relative calm to the game, even with the New Zealand chances raining down upon Japan. In the final quarter, however, it proved too much for the Japanese defence to manage. With four minutes left to play, an overhead pass fell to Sean Findlay, who nutmegged his marker before firing the ball against Dylan Thomas’s stick. Thomas deflected in and secured a deserved three points for the Blacksticks in the first game of Pool B. Scorer of that all-important goal and Player of the Match Dylan Thomas emphasised that “It was really important that we got the 3 points today, it’s been a good build up, we’ve felt really good since getting to Malaysia and we’re really stoked to get the result today.” Malaysia 3-3 Pakistan Closing a fantastic opening day for the Nations Cup, Pakistan took the upper hand in the first quarter, controlling the game and taking a 2-0 lead. Nadeem Ahmad’s acrobatic deflection (and explosive celebration) was followed quickly by Abdul Rehman’s scorching drag-flick from a penalty corner. The second and third quarters were goalless but two green cards and a yellow were signs of creeping ill discipline that

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FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2025: latest quotes from captains and coaches

15 Jun, 2025 With the inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 just a day away, here’s what the captains and coaches of the participating teams have to say… Kevin Johnson, Head Coach – Wales “We are really looking forward to going to a new tournament, and unique as it’s not often we get to play just the nations ranked closely around us in the world. All the teams present are no strangers to us in recent years, even South Africa, Uruguay and Malaysia who we have managed to play in series across the last 3 years. This selection reflects yet more player transition and congratulations to the 4 players set to earn their 1st caps for the Senior squad but the returning Sarah Jones will provide invaluable experience. It is an exciting group of players with much potential and we will be endeavouring to find a consistent level to our performances as we progress towards a European Championships later in the summer.” Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim, Head Coach – Malaysia “This tournament is a great opportunity for our team to learn, compete, and push ourselves against strong teams. As part of our final preparations, we went on a tour to China and played against one of the top provincial teams there. That experience really helped strengthen our teamwork and game tactics. A few of our key players are injured, but we fully trust our younger players to step up and give their best. The team has trained really hard, and this tournament will test our teamwork, belief, and spirit. We are ready to give our best in every match and continue improving together.” Gaël Foulard, Head Coach – France “Our goal is to have the best possible tournament. Our ambition is to win as many matches as possible. We have also integrated new players into our squad. The objective of the Nations Cup will be to build new connections and to start the competition in the best possible way.” Krzysztof Rachwalski, Head Coach – Poland “The participation in the upcoming FIH Women’s Nations Cup 2 tournament in Wałcz is a great honor for us and an opportunity to play with higher-ranked national teams from all over the world. I am convinced that our game will provide our fans with unforgettable emotions. I wish all teams good luck and I hope that the Olympic Center in Wałcz will appeal to all tournament participants.” Inky Zondi, Head Coach – South Africa “We are excited to begin this new cycle together. Its our first event since I was appointed as the coach and we are strongly working towards World Cup qualification and beyond. We are looking forward to competing against teams ranked around us and to improve our rankings, while also exposing some of the new members in our squad to this level of international hockey.” Sara Puglisi, Captain – Italy “It’s a great opportunity for us to play in this tournament. Of course, we are here to compete and take the best out of it. The Nations Cup 2 is a great chance for preparation, it’s the first step towards the European Championship coming up this summer. There’s nothing better than competing in a tournament like this against driven and committed teams”. Tomáš Procházka, Head Coach – Czechia “We expect a high-quality tournament with strong opponents at the Nations Cup 2. We have rejuvenated an already young team, so integrating new players will be a big challenge for us. Our preparation is aimed at the European Championship, but this tournament is still an important test for our team.” Watch all the matches from the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2025 LIVE from 16-22 June by signing up to the new reimagined version of the Watch.Hockey platform.

FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup Malaysia 2025: latest quotes from captains and coaches

14 Jun, 2025 With the third edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup just one day away, here’s what the captains and coaches of the participating teams have to say… Danny Newcombe, Head Coach, Wales “We’re incredibly excited to test ourselves against top-class opposition at the FIH Nations Cup 2025. This group is ready to compete, and we head into the tournament with belief, hunger, and a clear expectation to challenge every team we face. We’ve struck a great balance in the squad—blending the experience of our senior players with the energy and ambition of some exciting young talent coming through. It’s also fantastic to welcome back our GB Olympic athletes, whose experience at the highest level brings real quality and a competitive edge to the group. Malaysia is a fantastic place to play international hockey—passionate fans, top-class facilities, and an atmosphere that every player relishes.” John-John Dohmen, Head Coach, France “Our team has been training and preparing for the competition for several months. We have done everything we can to achieve the best possible result. I’d like to quote a phrase from Nelson Mandela that inspires us: ‘A winner is a dreamer who never gives up” Raiki Fujishima, Captain, Japan “Our goal for the FIH Nations Cup is clear: to win the tournament and secure a place in the FIH Pro League. We train hard every day with the aim of achieving strong results on the international stage. This tournament is a great opportunity to test ourselves, and we’re genuinely excited to see where we stand. As a team, we’re united and determined to give it everything we’ve got. With strong Samurai spirits and full commitment, we’ll deliver our best performance.” Lee Jung Jun, Captain, Korea “We are so happy to be able to compete in the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2025. We have prepared hard and will showcase a good game. Our primary goal is to advance to the semi-finals and then do our best from there on.” Muhammad Marhan Mohd Jalil, Captain, Malaysia “It is an honour to play at our home ground. Seeing and hearing the spectators chanting and supporting us during our matches builds our confidence and strength throughout the competition. Our goal is to win this tournament. Doing so would be our way of showing appreciation to Malaysian hockey fans for their unwavering support.” Greg Nicol, Head Coach, New Zealand “It’s great to be back playing international hockey again. The FIH Nations Cup was a successful event for us last year so we are hoping for a similar experience this time”. Sam Mvimbi, Captain, South Africa “Our group is super excited. It’s been a while since we have had some competitive matches against other nations. And with some new coaches and new players, including six debutants, we are excited to see what the team can do at this tournament.” Watch all the matches from the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup Malaysia 2025 LIVE from 15-21 June by signing up to the new reimagined version of the Watch.Hockey platform.

FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2025: A new chapter unfolds on 16 June

13 Jun, 2025 A new era in women’s hockey begins in just a few days as the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2, is all set to take place in Wałcz, Poland from 16-22 June 2025. As a vital stepping stone towards the top tier of international hockey, this event offers an unmissable opportunity for ambitious teams to prove their mettle on the global stage. This brand-new tier of the FIH Nations Cup competition provides a structured pathway for developing and emerging teams to eventually climb towards the FIH Pro League. With only one promotion spot available from this tournament to the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2026, every goal and every game will be fiercely contested. Poland Takes Centre Stage Wałcz, Poland has a rich sporting culture with the city being a hotbed of sporting activities, in addition to being the country’s major sporting hub due to its famed Olympic Training Center, the home of Polish Olympians across various disciplines. After successfully hosting the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup in Gniezno last year, Poland is ready to welcome the global hockey community with open arms and a spirit of competition. Teams to Watch The eight participating teams represent the next wave of talent in women’s hockey. Each nation arrives with determination, sharp tactics, and a hunger for international success. Whether it’s seasoned teams seeking redemption or rising nations aiming to turn heads, every match will carry the weight of ambition. Expect dynamic clashes, fast-paced action, and standout performances from future stars aiming to make their mark on the international scene. Pool A – Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Uruguay Pool B – Czechia, France, Italy, Wales Tournament Schedule Each team will play round-robin matches within their pool, followed by classification matches, semi-finals, and the final. All-European Pool B matches between Italy vs Wales and France vs Czechia will start us off on 16 June, to be followed by Pool A match featuring South Africa vs. Uruguay, before the final match of opening day between hosts Poland and Malaysia. The pool stage matches will be played on 16, 17 and 19 June, followed by the classification matches and medal matches on the 21 and 22 June. What’s at Stake The winner of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2025 will earn promotion to the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2026, inching one step closer to the prestigious FIH Hockey Pro League, the “League of the Best”! With the chance to rise through the ranks and eventually compete against the world’s elite, the significance of this tournament cannot be overstated. Where to Watch Watch all the matches from the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2025 LIVE by signing up to the new reimagined version of the Watch.Hockey platform. Source: FIH.hockey

FIH Hockey Nations Cup Malaysia 2025: The road to FIH Hockey Pro League begins on 15 June

10 Jun, 2025 The countdown has officially reached under a week to the start of the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup Malaysia 2025, the gateway to FIH Hockey Pro League, “League of the Best”. Set to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 15-21 June, the third edition of the competition promises high-stakes action, passionate crowds, and a showcase of hockey’s rising powers. As the official qualification pathway to the FIH Hockey Pro League 2025–26, the Nations Cup brings together eight elite national teams not currently competing in the Pro League. With only one coveted spot available, every match will carry immense weight, turning this tournament into a proving ground for world-class ambition. Malaysia Welcomes the World Renowned for its vibrant hockey culture, Malaysia offers a perfect stage for this global showdown. Fans can expect an electrifying atmosphere at the National Hockey Stadium, where the roar of local supporters will drive the home team and challenge the visitors. Malaysia last hosted the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup in 2023, and once again, the nation is ready to deliver an unforgettable experience. Teams to Watch The lineup for 2025 features a mix of battle-hardened veterans and hungry challengers from all corners of the hockey world. Fans can expect thrilling matchups, tactical masterclasses, and breakout performances from future stars of the sport. Whether it’s powerhouse contenders looking to reclaim their place on the Pro League stage or emerging nations eyeing history, the Nations Cup is where dreams take shape and legends are born. Pool A: France, Korea, South Africa, Wales Pool B: Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan Tournament Schedule The action begins on 15 June with all teams in action on opening day as Pool A encounters France vs Korea and South Africa vs Wales will get us underway. New Zealand will take on Japan in the penultimate match of the opening day before the electric final match of the day that will pit hosts Malaysia against Pakistan! The pool stage matches will be played on 15,16 and 18 June, followed by the classification matches and medal matches on the 20 and 21 June. What’s at Stake? Victory at the Nations Cup offers more than a trophy—it brings the opportunity to be promoted to the FIH Hockey Pro League, where the world’s top-ranked teams compete in a year-long competition. With global exposure, competitive growth, and a spot at the FIH Hockey World Cup for the winners of the Pro League, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Where to Watch Watch all the matches from the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup Malaysia 2025 LIVE by signing up to the new reimagined version of the Watch.Hockey platform.