JAKARTA: National No 1 goalkeeper S. Kumar was left heartbroken following Malaysia’s failure to win the Asian Games men’s hockey gold medal and the 2020 Olympic ticket.
World No 12 Malaysia were edged 3-1 via penalty shootout to Japan after a 6-6 draw in regulation time on Saturday.
In the match, Malaysia allowed Japan to claw back from 5-2 down for a 6-6 draw to force a penalty shootout.
Japan had no pressure going into the game as they have already qualified as hosts for the 2020 Olympics.
"What else can I say? I am heartbroken. We played so well to take a 5-2 lead and at that juncture, I already started thinking that we will win gold and qualify for the Olympics.
"We (all the players) need to accept the defeat and be happy with the silver medal.
“We should have killed off the game with our early lead, but we allowed Japan back into the match," he said when met after the sizzling final.
It was Japan’s first Asian Games gold medal in hockey.