Ismailia: The national men's hockey squad of Malaysia commenced their World Cup qualifying campaign with a strong performance, defeating Austria 6-1 in their opening Group B match in Ismailia, Egypt.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia encountered an early setback when Austria's Fulop Losonci scored a penalty stroke in the third minute. However, Malaysia quickly recovered, leveling the score and then taking the lead by the 24th minute with two field goals from Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal and Shello Silverius. Norsyafiq Sumantri extended the lead with a penalty corner goal in the 34th minute, followed by another goal from Azrai Aizad 10 minutes later. Akhimullah Anuar Esook added a field goal in the 52nd minute, and Marhan Jalil sealed the victory with a penalty corner goal in the 57th minute.

This victory places Malaysia in a promising position as they prepare to face Pakistan and China in their upcoming matches. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals.

Head coach Sarjit Singh expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance but emphasized the need for continued focus and improvement. He highlighted the importance of maintaining strong defense and capitalizing on scoring opportunities, as demonstrated during the match against Austria. Singh also noted the importance of a strong start and effective ball movement in future matches.