Malaysia all set to host the FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup 2025

IANS May 23, 2025 267 views

Malaysia is preparing to host the FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup 2025, bringing together eight international teams in Kuala Lumpur. The tournament represents a significant opportunity for teams to qualify for the Pro League and showcases Malaysia's commitment to promoting hockey. Team captain Muhammad Marhan is determined to win and show appreciation to local fans. This event marks an important milestone in Malaysia's hockey history, promising exciting matches and potential for growth in the sport.

"It is an honour to play at our home ground." - Muhammad Marhan Mohd Jalil, Team Captain
Kuala Lumpur, May 23: The excitement is building in Malaysia as it prepares to host the upcoming FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup 2025, a tournament that will bring together top-tier international teams in pursuit of glory and a coveted opportunity to be promoted to the FIH Hockey Pro League, in Kuala Lumpur from June 15-21.

Key Points

1

Malaysia aims to boost hockey popularity through international tournament

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Eight top nations compete for Pro League qualification

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Home team targets tournament victory

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First Nations Cup hosted by Malaysian team

For a country with a deep-rooted hockey tradition and a passionate fan base, hosting the Nations Cup marks yet another proud chapter in Malaysia's long-standing relationship with the sport.

Speaking about the significance of the event, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president, Dato' Sri Subahan Kamal, shared his thoughts on the upcoming event.

"It is an honour for Malaysia to play host yet again for a prestigious tournament. Though it will be our first Nations Cup tournament as host, we believe every tournament hosted by us escalates excitement among the younger generation and helps promote hockey actively. We are confident this will increase interest in the sport and grow a bigger community of hockey lovers," he was quoted by FIH in a statement.

The tournament is also significant for other participants as the winner will qualify for next year's FIH Pro League.

The tournament will not only showcase international rivalries but will also serve as a rallying point for Malaysian hockey fans, who will have the chance to cheer on their national team from the stands. For the players, the home support means everything.

Team captain, Muhammad Marhan Mohd Jalil, is eagerly looking forward to leading his team on home soil: "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."

With the team fully focused on putting in a strong performance, expectations are high and ambitions are clear.

"Our goal is to win this tournament. Doing so would be our way of showing appreciation to Malaysian hockey fans for their unwavering support," said Marhan.

With a storied history of hosting top-tier international hockey tournaments, a hugely passionate fan base, and a team ready to shine on the international stage, Malaysia is set to deliver a memorable edition of the FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup 2025.

This is the third edition of the tournament which started in 2019. South Africa won the first edition in 2022 while New Zealand won the 2023-24 edition.

The eight teams in the fray are France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, South Korea and Wales. The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four each.

Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the article:
R
Rahul K.
Great to see Asian countries hosting major hockey tournaments! Malaysia has always been passionate about hockey. Hope this boosts the sport's popularity in the region. Would love to see India participate in future editions too 🇮🇳🏑
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Priya M.
Interesting lineup of teams! Surprised to see Pakistan in the tournament but not India. Our hockey team is much stronger currently. Maybe FIH should reconsider the qualification criteria? Nevertheless, best wishes to all participants!
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Amit S.
Malaysia is a great host for hockey events. I remember watching the 2002 World Cup there. The atmosphere was electric! Hope the local fans get to see some high-quality matches. Would be amazing if Malaysia can win it on home soil 🤞
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Neha T.
As a hockey lover from Odisha (where we have the world's largest hockey stadium!), I appreciate Malaysia's efforts to promote the sport. But I wish more Indian players got such international exposure. Our domestic tournaments need better marketing and coverage.
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Vikram J.
The Nations Cup is a good platform for emerging teams. But honestly, without India, Australia, Netherlands etc., it feels like a second-tier tournament. FIH should work on making it more inclusive of top teams while giving chances to others too.
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Sanjay R.
Good initiative by Malaysia! Hockey needs more such tournaments in Asia. Maybe India can co-host something similar with Malaysia in future? Our countries have strong hockey traditions and it would be great for growing the sport's popularity.

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Tags:
FIH Hockey Malaysia Hockey Nations Cup 2025 Muhammad Marhan International Hockey