{
  "id": 11823005,
  "title": "Loss to India won't stop Malaysia's quest for LA 2028, says captain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/loss-to-india-wont-stop-malaysias-quest-for-la-2028-says-captain",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-04T02:14:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/hockey/2026/10/1547220/loss-india-wont-stop-malaysias-quest-la-2028-says-captain"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAGOYA: Malaysia's national field hockey team captain Marhan Jalil remains confident the squad can still qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics despite their heavy loss to defending champions India at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. India defeated Malaysia with a score of 5-1 in the final match at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, securing the gold medal.\n\nMarhan acknowledged the team's disappointment in not performing to the best of their abilities, but expressed satisfaction with the improvements they have made since three months ago. He highlighted the victories against Pakistan and South Korea as proof of their progress. However, he emphasized that they need to perform better in crucial matches, as success cannot rely solely on individual efforts. Rather, all players must work together cohesively.\n\nMarhan remains optimistic about Malaysia's chances of qualifying for LA 2028. He believes that the coaches will identify the areas that require improvement and the team will work hard to address them. The next major challenge for the national squad will be the Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled from October 27 to November 5 in India.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA: National field hockey team captain Marhan Jalil is confident Malaysia can still qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but admits the squad will have to improve in a number of areas.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia's hockey captain Marhan Jalil confident of LA 2028 qualification.",
    "Malaysia lost 5-1 to India at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games final.",
    "Team focuses on improvement, upcoming Asian Champions Trophy in India."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Malaysia's confidence in Olympic qualification signals a shift from past defeatist attitudes, as captain Marhan Jalil focuses on team cohesion and improvement to achieve the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics goal.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}