Johor bahru: Six countries have confirmed participation in the 2025 Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) Under-21 International Hockey Tournament, which will be held at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, from Oct 11 to 18. The 13th edition of the prestigious tournament will feature defending champions Great Britain, alongside Pakistan, Australia, India, New Zealand, and hosts Malaysia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said this year’s edition was significant, as it also served as an important platform for the national junior squad in their preparations for the 2025 Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup. He emphasized the need for the national junior hockey team to capitalize on the SOJC to make a strong impression, following last year’s performance where they finished in fifth or sixth place.

Mohd Hairi stated, ‘We must put up a stronger challenge in the tournament and not merely treat it as a warm-up for the Hockey Junior World Cup in India this December. The SOJC should be regarded as a prestigious competition as the teams involved are among the top-ranked in world junior hockey.’ He expressed hope that the junior hockey players would fully apply the experience gained during their recent exposure in China during the SOJC and aspire to replicate Malaysia’s success in 2011 when they won the inaugural edition.

Additionally, Mohd Hairi announced that the SOJC 2025 would introduce a new element, involving a series of friendly matches between the Johor SUKMA hockey team and five of the SOJC participants. ‘Unlike previous editions, this time we want the tournament to also contribute to the development of sports in Johor. This initiative will give wider exposure to athletes, especially the Johor SUKMA squad, and assist in their preparations for the SUKMA Games in Selangor next August,’ he added.