India and Malaysia: five recent meetings across Asian tournaments (2023–2025)
India and Malaysia met in five recent encounters between 2023 and 2025 at tournaments including the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai, the Asian Champions Trophy league stage in 2024, the Men's Hockey Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar in 2025, and the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh on November 26, 2025. India won each of those listed matches.
The India–Malaysia fixture is one of Asia’s more competitive rivalries, though India lead the overall head-to-head with 90 wins in 128 matches, Malaysia with 17 victories and 21 draws. Malaysia’s most notable recent success against India came in the 2018 Asian Games semifinal, when they beat India in a shootout and prevented India reaching the final and securing a direct Olympic berth. At continental tournaments, Malaysia have never beaten India at the Asia Cup, where India have eight wins and two draws. India have won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup five times, while Malaysia have recorded their first-ever title at that event. Indian hockey’s early Olympic era began in 1928 and yielded eight successive Olympic golds through 1980; Malaysia’s best Olympic finish was eighth in 1972, India have won the Hockey World Cup and finished fourth on three occasions, and Malaysia’s best World Cup result was fourth in 1975 when they hosted the tournament.
In the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai in 2023 India defeated Malaysia 5-0. Karthi Selvam scored in the 15th minute to make it 1-0 at the first-quarter break; Hardik Singh’s rebound in the 32nd minute made it 2-0 in the third quarter, Harmanpreet Singh added a goal in the 42nd minute, Gurjant Singh scored in the 53rd minute and Jugraj Singh finished the scoring in the 54th minute. India controlled the match from start to finish, missed a few penalty corners, and Malaysia had one goal disallowed.
Later in August 2023 India recovered to beat Malaysia 4-3 in the Asian Champions Trophy final in Chennai. jugraj Singh (9′), Harmanpreet Singh (45′), Gurjant Singh (45′) and Akashdeep Singh (56′) scored for India, while Abu Kamal Azrai (14′), Razie Rahim (18′) and Aminudin Muhamad (28′) scored for Malaysia. Malaysia led 3-1 at halftime before India mounted a comeback in the final quarter; Harmanpreet converted a penalty stroke and Gurjant tapped in to level, and Akashdeep’s 56th-minute strike sealed the victory.
In the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy league stage in 2024 India beat Malaysia 8-1. Raj Kumar Pal recorded a hat-trick in the 3rd, 25th and 33rd minutes, Araijeet Singh Hundal scored twice (6th, 39th), and Jugraj Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Uttam Singh also contributed. Malaysia’s solitary goal came from Akhimullah Anuar in the 34th minute. India registered 27 circle penetrations and 55% possession in the match.
At the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir India won 4-1 in their Super 4s clash with Malaysia. Shafiq Hassan gave Malaysia an early lead in the 2nd minute, Manpreet Singh equalised in the 17th minute, and quick goals from Sukhjeet Singh and Shilanand Lakra put India 3-1 at halftime. Vivek Sagar Prasad extended the advantage in the third quarter with a deflected penalty corner.
India secured a 4-3 victory over hosts Malaysia at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh on November 26, 2025 in a match that swung across all four quarters. Selvam Karthi opened the scoring in the 7th minute, Malaysia levelled before Sukhjeet Singh restored India’s lead, Amit Rohidas converted a penalty corner to cancel Malaysia’s second equaliser and captain Sanjay sealed the result with a composed penalty stroke in the 53rd minute. Malaysia’s goals came from Faizal Saari, Fitri Saari and Marhan Jalil, and goalkeeper Pawan produced a crucial late save.
India’s win in Rajgir pushed them to the top of the Super 4s standings and placed them in strong contention for a spot in the final.
