Malaysia: Malaysia's Para ID hockey team marked their World Cup debut in style, securing a historic bronze at the inaugural 2026 Para ID Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. The national side capped their campaign with a 3-1 victory over hosts Belgium in the third-place play-off at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia assistant head of delegation R. Shanker said the achievement was proof that the national players could hold their own against the world's best when given the opportunity to compete at the highest level. 'This bronze is not just a victory, but a historic moment that proves our players can compete with the world's best teams. They showed courage, discipline and great fighting spirit throughout the tournament,' he said in a statement today.

Shanker credited the players, coaches, and officials for their hard work and commitment throughout the campaign, while also acknowledging the backing of their families, management, sponsors, and supporters. He said the bronze should provide a springboard for the national Para ID hockey programme to grow further, while giving more athletes in the category opportunities to develop and compete on the international stage.

'This achievement belongs to all of us and I hope it will be the starting point for a bigger journey for Malaysia's Para ID hockey in the future,' he said. He hoped that the historic podium finish would open more doors for Para ID hockey athletes to continue developing and flying the national flag on the world stage.