Australia finally lifted the Sultan of Johor Cup after defeating India 2-1 in a thrilling final at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on Saturday. The victory marked Australia’s first title in the tournament after three previous losses in the final, breaking a long-standing jinx in their fourth attempt.
The contest, a fitting finale to the 2025 edition, was tightly fought from the outset. Both teams showed early restraint, focusing on defensive solidity before Australia drew first blood late in the opening quarter. With just two minutes left in the period, Ian Grobbelaar stepped up to convert Australia’s first penalty corner of the match, giving his side a 1-0 lead.
India, however, responded strongly in the second quarter. Known for its aggressive attacking play throughout the tournament but plagued by poor penalty corner conversion—having converted only seven out of 47 prior attempts—India finally found its moment. On its 48th penalty corner opportunity of the campaign, Anmol Ekka unleashed a blistering flick that rocketed into the top corner, levelling the score just before halftime.
The equaliser ignited India’s confidence, and the momentum carried into the third quarter. The young Indian side launched waves of attacks, repeatedly penetrating the Australian circle and winning short corners, yet their inability to convert chances proved costly. Both teams tightened up defensively as the quarter progressed, with neither finding the breakthrough in a tense midfield battle.
The decisive moment came heartbreakingly late for India. With just two minutes remaining, captain Rohit committed a crucial error during a penalty corner defence, stepping out of the line too early before the injection. The infringement reduced India to three outfield defenders for the retake, giving Australia a vital numerical advantage. Grobbelaar seized the moment again, firing home his second goal of the match to restore Australia’s lead.
Despite a late push, India could not find another equaliser, and the final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations from the Australian camp. The win crowned their perseverance after years of near misses and solidified their growing dominance in junior international hockey.
For India, this was their record eighth appearance in the Sultan of Johor Cup final out of 12 editions—an impressive testament to their consistency, even if the ultimate prize slipped away this time. Earlier in the day, Great Britain defeated Pakistan 3-2 in a closely contested bronze medal match.
