NEW DELHI, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- The national women's hockey squad failed to qualify for the World League semi-finals after losing 0-4 to Japan in the second round of the league at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi, India.
"We did well till the 25th minute but there was a mistake which gave Japan their first goal in the first half," coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim told Bernama after the match, here Sunday.
"In the second half, most of the team's first choice players were already injured and the team had to depend on inexperienced players."
Japan scored three more goals in the second half.
Asked why the Malaysian team was mostly on the defending side, he said: "We have to be realistic. The Japanese are too strong for us. If we keep the field too open then they would have scored more."
Nevertheless, he was happy with the team's performance, as they managed to keep the score low despite the defeat.
"0-4 is still a good score. We were beaten by the Japanese team 0-8 before. So, there is an improvement and the tournament is a good experience for the Malaysian players to develop their strength," he said.
By SARASWATHI MUNIAPPAN -- BERNAMA
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