The national women’s hockey team revived their World Cup qualifying hopes with a dominant 6-1 victory over Canada in Santiago

SANTIAGO: The national women’s hockey squad reignited their 2026 World Cup semi-final hopes with a commanding 6-1 victory over Canada in their second Group B match.

The emphatic win on Tuesday came as a powerful response to their 5-0 opening defeat to Ireland just a day earlier.

Nur Afiqah Syahzani Azhar was the star of the show, scoring two field goals in the 20th and 28th minutes at the Estadio Nacional.

The scoring began early when Khairunnisa Ayuni Mohd Sharuddin converted a penalty corner in the ninth minute.

Zati Alyani Muhammad Zubir added a third with a field goal in the 36th minute before Nuramirah Shakirah Zulkifli and Fatin Shafika Mahd Sukri completed the rout.

The fifth and sixth goals came from penalty corners in the 39th and 46th minutes respectively.

Chloe Walton scored a solitary consolation goal for Canada in the 11th minute.

Head coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim praised his players’ disciplined response in a video shared by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation.

“The players gave their best,” he said. “This was the result of high discipline and effective tactics, unlike yesterday against Ireland.”

He added that there is still room for improvement as the team prepares to face tournament favourites Japan.

Ireland currently top Group B with six points from two wins.

Japan sit second on goal difference, level on three points with Malaysia, while Canada remain bottom without a point.

The top two teams from Groups A and B will advance to the semi-finals in Santiago.

Only the top three teams from each qualifying event, plus the highest-ranked fourth-placed side overall, will secure spots at the 2026 World Cup.

The global showpiece will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from Aug 14-30.

The other qualifying tournament is being held in Hyderabad, India.

 The Sun Malaysia