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Chinese Taipei wins the IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2023

The IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2023 is over after an intense and exciting week full of korfball and a great ambience, proclaiming Chinese Taipei as champions of this 2023 edition, after winning today’s decisive final match against Malaysia by 9-27.

The Bronze medal match between China and Hong Kong China ended 24-11 in favour of China, who leaded the match from the beginning until the end, despite efforts of HKG that kept playing looking for a comeback.

We witnessed an exhilarating display of talent and sportsmanship as the IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2023  in Shah Alam, Malaysia. This prestigious tournament showcased the best young korfball players from across the region, and it was a historic occasion for Malaysia as they hosted their first ever international Korfball event.
 
Nine teams from Asia and Oceania participated in this thrilling competition, making it a true celebration of the sport’s global reach. Athletes from Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, and India showcased their skills, determination, and teamwork throughout the championship.
 
The closing ceremony was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including IKF Asia President Prof. Inglish Huang, Mr. Tim Miller, President of IKF Oceania, and IKF Exco Member, Mr. Jorge Alves. Their attendance at the event highlighted the significance and recognition of the tournament on an international level.
 
Moreover, Ms. Daphne Lau Wai Fun, the President of the Malaysia Korfball Association, played a pivotal role in organizing this grand event. Her dedication and commitment to the sport were instrumental in ensuring the success of the championship. Her presence during the prize distribution ceremony added a sense of pride and accomplishment to the occasion.
Chinese Taipei emerged as the champions, displaying their mastery of the game with a resounding victory in the final match against Malaysia. The scoreline of 27-9 reflected their exceptional skills, teamwork, and strategic prowess. Their achievement marked a successful defense of their title and solidified their position as one of the dominant forces in the world of korfball.
However, it was Malaysia who created history by making it to the final for the first time. Their remarkable journey saw them defeat previous time finalists (2019), China, in a thrilling semifinal match. The Malaysian team’s performance demonstrated their rapid growth, determination, and resilience as they continue to make their mark on the international korfball stage.
China secured the third position in the tournament by defeating Hong Kong China with a commendable score of 24-11. Their consistent performance and expertise in the game were on full display, showcasing their status among the top teams in the region.
 
The Malaysia Korfball Association deserves heartfelt congratulations for their remarkable efforts in organizing this grand event. Their dedication and hard work have undoubtedly contributed to the growth and popularity of korfball in the region.
 
As the IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2023 comes to a close, we extend our congratulations to Chinese Taipei for their well-deserved victory, as well as to Malaysia for their exceptional performance and successful hosting of this memorable event. We also salute all the participating teams for their dedication, sportsmanship, and incredible talent displayed throughout the championship.
 
The tournament was a testament to the power of sports in bringing people together, fostering friendship, and promoting healthy competition. Let us cherish the memories, celebrate the triumphs, and continue to support the growth of korfball in the Asia-Oceania region.

Updated results and final ranking

The Malaysia Korfball Association was the organiser of this event and all games were played at National Sports Complex, Shah Alam You can visit the official website of the tournament (facebook.com/IKFU21AOKC2023) to find and review all the  information about this event, as well as all the other activities and events planned to enjoy an intense and exciting 6-day korfbal championship.

Fans around the world were able to watch and enjoy all games through the IKF live streamings available on www.worldkorfball.sport and youtube.com/ikfchannel, with all the statistics, results, top scorers and rankings.

IKF Youtube live streaming playlist:

*Click on the top-right icon ≣ to view all games scheduled

On social media you can find the best images, clips and highlights, visiting the official IKF profiles (see below) and via the hashtags #U21AOKC and #korfball:

IKF Official profiles:

youtube.com/IKFchannel

fb_icon_16x16

facebook.com/korfball.org

tw_icon_16x16

twitter.com/korfball

insta_icon_16x16

instagram.com/korfball_org

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tiktok.com/@korfball.sport

Image Gallery | Final Day



Results | 2nd Phase

Results | Group Phase

PREVIOUS RELATED NEWS

The 2nd phase of IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2023 has started!

After 3 intense and exciting days at the IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2023, the Malaysian city of Shah Alam in Selangor is ready to host the decisive final crossings that will decide which teams will play for medals on Sunday.

Australia, China, Hong Kong China, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Sri Lanka are the ten teams participating in this always exciting tournament.

Updated results and final match schedule | 2nd Phase

The Malaysia Korfball AssocationAssociation is the organiser of this event and all games will be played at National Sports Complex, Shah Alam You can visit the official website of the tournament (facebook.com/IKFU21AOKC2023) to find all the updated information about this event, as well as all the other activities and events planned to enjoy an intense and exciting 6-day korfbal championship.

Fans around the world will be able to watch and enjoy all games through the IKF live streamings available on www.worldkorfball.sport and youtube.com/ikfchannel, with all the statistics, results, top scorers and rankings.

IKF Youtube live streaming playlist:

*Click on the top-right icon ≣ to view all games scheduled

On social media you can find the best images, clips and highlights, visiting the official IKF profiles (see below) and via the hashtags #U21AOKC and #korfball:

IKF Official profiles:

youtube.com/IKFchannel

fb_icon_16x16

facebook.com/korfball.org

tw_icon_16x16

twitter.com/korfball

insta_icon_16x16

instagram.com/korfball_org

tiktok_icon16x16

tiktok.com/@korfball.sport

 

Daily results | Group Phase

Image Gallery Day 4







Image Gallery Day 5






PREVIOUS RELATED NEWS

The IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2023 is here!

The Malaysian city of Shah Alam in Selangor is hosting from 8 to 13 August the IKF U21 Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2023. Australia, China, Hong Kong China, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Sri Lanka are the ten teams that will participate in this always exciting tournament to decide wich country is the most powerful in this intercontinental event. During the first 4 days, teams will compete in a group phase, and the last 2 days, they will play a second phase that will decide the final crossings.

Updated match schedule after the late withdrawal of #TeamSriLanka:

The Malaysia Korfball AssocationAssociation is the organiser of this event and all games will be played at National Sports Complex, Shah Alam You can visit the official website of the tournament (facebook.com/IKFU21AOKC2023) to find all the updated information about this event, as well as all the other activities and events planned to enjoy an intense and exciting 6-day korfbal championship.

Fans around the world will be able to watch and enjoy all games through the IKF live streamings available on www.worldkorfball.sport and youtube.com/ikfchannel, with all the statistics, results, top scorers and rankings.

IKF Youtube live streaming playlist:

*Click on the top-right icon ≣ to view all games scheduled

On social media you can find the best images, clips and highlights, visiting the official IKF profiles (see below) and via the hashtags #U21AOKC and #korfball:

IKF Official profiles:

youtube.com/IKFchannel

fb_icon_16x16

facebook.com/korfball.org

tw_icon_16x16

twitter.com/korfball

insta_icon_16x16

instagram.com/korfball_org

tiktok_icon16x16

tiktok.com/@korfball.sport  

Daily results and updated ranking | Group Phase

 

Image Gallery Day 1





Image Gallery Day 2







Image Gallery Day 3




RELATED NEWS

Chinese Taipei wins the IKF Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2022

The 11th IKF Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship that took place in Pattaya City, Thailand, from 28th November to 4th December 2022, has its final champion: Chinese Taipei. All the other 7 qualified countries from Asia and Oceania that will participate in next year’s IKF World Korfball Championship are also known after Sunday’s results: TPE, CHN, AUS, NZL, IND, JPN, HGK and THA.

 

This was a qualifying event for the next IKF World Korfball Championship 2023 to be played in Taipei. [Download Press event booklet here]. From Asia and Oceania, 7 countries were able to qualify for the WKC 2023 (in addition to the host country), among which at least one Oceanian country. [Read more about qualification]

IKF ASIA YOUTUBE LIVE STREAM PLAYLIST:

*Click on the top-right icon ≣ to view all games scheduled

All fans around the world were be able to watch and follow this tournament live on www.worldkorfball.sport and on Youtube (with live results and streams, statistics, scorers, play-by-play, …).

The Korfball Association of Thailand (KAT), in collaboration with the IKF, was the organiser of this important championship, the largest AOKC event ever held with 12 teams participating.

The teams of Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand battled it out in two groups of six (drawn based on world rankings) before cross over matches make for an exciting final weekend where all teams were still be contention to qualify for next year’s World Championship.

DAY 7 REVIEW – Finals (4/12/2022) – By Rob Smith

On the final day, with a series of ranking games, play started early.

First up Indonesia and Malaysia played off for ninth position. Although out of the qualification places, ninth at this tournament is first reserve for the 2023 Korfball World Championship, so some hope for the winner. Both teams worked hard, despite this being the end of a tough week. Malaysia prevailed by 16-7 and will be waiting for the call if one of the qualifiers is not able to make it to Taipei next year.

Thailand and Hong Kong China met to determine seventh place. A close game showed how much the host has improved through the tournament: their IKF ranking is 20 places lower than their opponent, though most of the way through the scoreboard suggested we were heading for golden goal. In the end, Hong Kong China did just enough to complete victory: 9-8.

Next up, India versus Japan was a rematch of a pool game from day two of the tournament, where India showed that, despite several years of absence from international korfball, opponents need to take them seriously. India led most of the way, though never by more than two, and at the end that was the difference: 12-10. Fifth place capped a successful return to this tournament for India, while now sitting sixth in the region, Japan falls back one place from the ranking they achieved in 2018.

Despite being neighbours and close korfball friends, New Zealand and Australia have not met in a full senior international match since 2010. With the bronze medal at stake today, nerves and fatigue from a tough week got the better of New Zealand early, and they failed to find the energy that had served them well to date. By the time they clicked into gear, Australia’s lead was too great, and the more experienced Australian team was able to withstand a comeback to take the bronze medal by 16-11.

In the final, perennial Asia-Oceania champion Chinese Taipei showed that, despite winning all their games with ease, they have played so far this week with power to spare, lifting their game with increased precision in attack and sustained excellence throughout the team for a spectacular crowd pleasing performance to overcome their neighbour and rival, China, by 29-17.

DAY 7 IMAGE GALLERY RECAP (by Krit Suttipithuk)

 

DAY 6 REVIEW – Semi-finals (3/12/2022) – By Rob Smith

With the top four teams in this tournament decided yesterday, today and tomorrow will determine which others fill the next four ranking positions and therefore assure qualification to the 2023 World Korfball Championship.

India faced Indonesia in the first game, intent on celebrating their comeback to international korfball after a long absence with a seat at the top table. While the first half was tight and tense, India moved up a gear in the second half to win the game comfortably, 25-8, therefore securing qualification and participation in the world championship for the first time since 2011, a whole generation ago in terms of korfball talent.

Hong Kong China and Japan both participated in the 2019 world championship, having finished fourth and fifth respectively in 2018’s  edition of this tournament, and are both intent on building on that in 2023. They met to decide which will definitely advance. Hong Kong China led for much of a game dominated by defence and characterised by nerves in attack. Although Hong Kong China seemed to have overcome their disappointment at missing a top four place yesterday, the margin was always small and Japan stayed positive to take the lead late in the game, holding firm to win by 10-9. Japan celebrated their qualification and a chance to play for the fifth ranking this week, while Hong Kong China has one more chance tomorrow to make it into the top eight.

Thailand and Singapore met to determine which will keep their opportunity to qualify for the world championship alive into the last two days. Singapore has yet to win a game, while Thailand achieved that milestone yesterday. Encouraged by that success, the host established a comfortable first half lead, which they built on further for a final scoreline of 21-6, putting into practice what they have learnt in their earlier games. While Singapore became the first team that will definitely not proceed to next year’s world championship, they are young players and their first international experience has set them up for a positive future in korfball.

Malaysia and Philippines met in the day’s final game. Again the loser would be removed from contention for a place in the World Korfball Championship. Malaysia has shown plenty of promise at this tournament, and with a young and determined team, is establishing the foundation required if it is to become a serious future contender. Philippines is at an earlier point in its korfball development. Malaysia steadily built a lead to confirm it remains in contention for qualification, winning by 17-6, while Phillipines must be content to play off for 11th place.

DAY 6 IMAGE GALLERY RECAP (by Krit Suttipithuk)

 

MORE DAILY REVIEWS AND IMAGE GALLERIES FROM DAYS 1 TO 5 HERE: https://korfball.sport/?p=29716

 

LIVE STREAMS, RESULTS & SOCIAL MEDIA

All fans around the world were be able to watch and follow this tournament live on www.worldkorfball.sport and on Youtube (with live results and streams, statistics, scorers, play-by-play, …).

HOW TO FOLLOW

The official profiles of IKF Asia on Facebook, Instagram and Yotube provided a lot of images, videos and information about this tournament.

All teams, participants and fans could join the conversation and share their content and support using the hashtag #AOKC2022 and #korfball.

IKF Asia profiles – @IKFasia:

You could also follow the event on IKF’s main channels:

 

EVENT INFORMATION

Event information can be found here: https://korfball.sport/event/ikf-asia-oceania-korfball-championship-2022/

The IKF Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship 2022 is on: daily updates here

[Last update: 3/12/2022 at 13:30 CET – Day 6 finished] – From Monday 28th November to Sunday 4th December 2022, the 11th IKF Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship is taking place in Pattaya City, Thailand. This is a qualifying event for the next IKF World Korfball Championship 2023 to be played in Taipei. [Download Press event booklet here]

From Asia and Oceania, 7 countries will qualify for the WKC 2023 (in addition to the host country), among which at least one Oceanian country. [Read more about qualification]

IKF ASIA YOUTUBE LIVE STREAM PLAYLIST:

*Click on the top-right icon ≣ to view all games scheduled

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ17-0N9UUQgnQM60uIz0aYCGnZeVgRM8

 

 

All fans around the world will be able to watch and follow this tournament live on www.worldkorfball.sport and on Youtube (with live results and streams, statistics, scorers, play-by-play, …).

The Korfball Association of Thailand (KAT), in collaboration with the IKF, is the organiser of this important championship, the largest AOKC event ever held with 12 teams participating.

The teams of Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand will battle it out in two groups of six (drawn based on world rankings) before cross over matches make for an exciting final weekend where all teams will still be contention to qualify for next year’s World Championship.

DAY 5 REVIEW (2/12/2022)

DAY 6 REVIEW (3/12/2022) – By Rob Smith

In the first two games of the day the two remaining qualification places were at stake. Indonesia ranked number 32 by IKF met number 34 ranked Thailand in the first match. Although Indonesia is a longer standing participant in international korfball, that pedigree is balanced by the professionalism that Thailand has brought to this tournament, both as the host and from an exciting, talented team that has grown steadily through a week of competition. Those were the telling factors and Thailand won the match by 15-8 to book their spot in the Korfball World Championship next year.

Hong Kong China, a participant at the previous three world championships, was intent on confirming their place in the 2023 edition. In the day’s second match, to determine the eighth and final qualifier from this tournament, Malaysia stood in their way. Both teams started tentatively before Hong Kong China discovered more shooting accuracy than they have found in the previous two days, and better parity in the rebound, managing to prevail, at last, with reasonable comfort by 17-6.

Next up, in the first semi final, New Zealand, fighting for a medal for the first time in an Asia Oceania Korfball Championship, took on the might of Chinese Taipei. Playing with greater intensity than they have so far this tournament, the long time champion took their game up a gear at critical points in the game, leaving New Zealand behind, to stroll into the final by 27-12. Despite losing this game, after starting the tournament as the sixth ranked participant, New Zealand will be content with a shot at the bronze medal.

In what promised to be the most interesting game of the day, Australia was determined to produce an upset against China, which is nine places higher on the IKF rankings. Although Australia pushed hard, and threatened a comeback late on, China established an early lead and was able to dictate terms from that point, winning by 22-17 to secure a place in the final and validate its IKF ranking.

Making their final appearance at this tournament, repeating a pool game they played on day three, Singapore and Philippines contested the day’s final game, battling for this tournament’s eleventh ranking. Both have made progress through the week, and to their credit, managed to finish with a competitive match, despite the intensity both have expended to this point. With a final score of 18-11 Philippines repeated their victory from three days ago, both teams marking an improvement from that 11-8 win.

DAY 5 REVIEW (2/12/2022) – By Rob Smith

With the top four teams in this tournament decided yesterday, today and tomorrow will determine which others fill the next four ranking positions and therefore assure qualification to the 2023 World Korfball Championship.

India faced Indonesia in the first game, intent on celebrating their comeback to international korfball after a long absence with a seat at the top table. While the first half was tight and tense, India moved up a gear in the second half to win the game comfortably, 25-8, therefore securing qualification and participation in the world championship for the first time since 2011, a whole generation ago in terms of korfball talent.

Hong Kong China and Japan both participated in the 2019 world championship, having finished fourth and fifth respectively in 2018’s  edition of this tournament, and are both intent on building on that in 2023. They met to decide which will definitely advance. Hong Kong China led for much of a game dominated by defence and characterised by nerves in attack. Although Hong Kong China seemed to have overcome their disappointment at missing a top four place yesterday, the margin was always small and Japan stayed positive to take the lead late in the game, holding firm to win by 10-9. Japan celebrated their qualification and a chance to play for the fifth ranking this week, while Hong Kong China has one more chance tomorrow to make it into the top eight.

Thailand and Singapore met to determine which will keep their opportunity to qualify for the world championship alive into the last two days. Singapore has yet to win a game, while Thailand achieved that milestone yesterday. Encouraged by that success, the host established a comfortable first half lead, which they built on further for a final scoreline of 21-6, putting into practice what they have learnt in their earlier games. While Singapore became the first team that will definitely not proceed to next year’s world championship, they are young players and their first international experience has set them up for a positive future in korfball.  

Malaysia and Philippines met in the day’s final game. Again the loser would be removed from contention for a place in the World Korfball Championship. Malaysia has shown plenty of promise at this tournament, and with a young and determined team, is establishing the foundation required if it is to become a serious future contender. Philippines is at an earlier point in its korfball development. Malaysia steadily built a lead to confirm it remains in contention for qualification, winning by 17-6, while Phillipines must be content to play off for 11th place.

DAY 5 IMAGE GALLERY RECAP (by Krit Suttipithuk)


DAY 4 REVIEW (1/12/2022)

DAY 4 REVIEW (1/12/2022) – By Rob Smith

Today’s Asia Oceania Korfball Championship matches established the top four, who have all now qualifed for the 2023 Korfball World Championship. Outside those places, a further four will also receive the invitation, and none of the remaining eight in Pattaya City are yet excluded as the last three days will determine their success, or otherwise. 

Hong Kong China and New Zealand have been close korfball rivals for many years. Today’s first match, setting the two against each other, was the final pool game for each and would determine which progressed to this tournament’s top four. Both defended with great determination, though struggled to overcome the tension of the occasion when on the attack. Goals were difficult to come by, particularly in the first half. Eventually New Zealand’s rebounding superiority was reflected on the scoreboard, establishing a lead that they preserved with focus and careful clock management. The 11-7 result means they will play for the medals and have assured qualification to the world champs, while Hong Kong China, which currently has a superior IKF ranking to New Zealand, will fight for fifth place at best in the crossover games.

Thailand and Malaysia featured in the day’s second match, with the host still in search of their first win. Two even teams, showing their athleticism, determination and korfball skills in advance of their relative inexperience, they have both been an asset to this tournament. However, once again scoring was slow as the tension threatened to overwhelm the players. However, Thailand established a lead that they never gave up, albeit that Malaysia fought back to one goal down and threatened to force golden goal at the end. Unlike their last second victory over India, this time Malaysia was not able to come through for a win, giving Thailand their first ‘W’ of the week, and their first ever victory in an international tournament match, by 9-8, which elevated them above Malaysia in the pool standings on the basis of this result for an easier path to the top eight.

Singapore is also without a win, with perhaps their best opportunity so far in the day’s third game, where they took on Indonesia. While world championship qualification is still an opportunity for both these teams, they will need to make significant improvements in the coming days to bring that about. Indonesia showed the most benefit from the lessons of the past three days, taking their second win of the tournament 10-6.

In the next match, two of the higher ranked teams, Japan and Australia, faced off. With their longer korfball pedigree, Australia was determined to put yesterday’s Pool A loss to Chinese Taipei behind them, and confirm their place in the top four. They duly built an advantage on the scoreboard that Japan never looked likely to threaten, winning by 15-7 to confirm they will also have a rest day tomorrow ahead of the crossover games, where they will contest the medals, and like their Oceania neighbour has now qualified for the 2023 world championship,while Japan still has further work if they are to take one of the remaining qualification positions.

Chinese Taipei met India in the day’s fifth game. After a relatively low scoring first half, the defending champion put on an exhibition for the spectators, and issued a strident warning to the other teams that will contest the medals, escalating the score rapidly to give India their harshest reminder thus far on their return that international korfball has progressed since they have been away. Final score: 36-11, which was  immaterial in terms of next year’s world championship qualification since Chinese Taipei qualify automatically as the host.

Having already won Pool B, China met Phillipines to complete the day’s matches, and the round robin section of the tournament. The game was never in doubt and the world’s number four ranked korfball nation prevailed comfortably by 24-7. China has also sealed qualification.

The top four will sit out tomorrow’s play ahead of semi finals on Saturday, while the other eight teams play crossover games to narrow down which will finish ranked between five and eight and therefore book trips to Chinese Taipei next year.

DAY 4 IMAGE GALLERY RECAP (by Krit Suttipithuk)

DAY 3 REVIEW (30/11/2022)

DAY 3 REVIEW (30/11/2022) – By Rob Smith

Day three’s first match was contested by New Zealand and Indonesia. New Zealand played efficiently, scoring regularly, while defending impressively to keep their opponent scoreless, the first time a team at this tournament has ended the game with zero goals, for a 26-0 result.

Hong Kong China played with spirit in the next match, though were unable to stay close to China, who kept an even tempo, albeit relatively low scoring, to comfortably prevail by 14-8, making it near certain they will win Pool B, and setting up the Hong Kong China versus New Zealand match tomorrow as the decider for the other semi final position from that side of the draw. 

After the two teams concerned experienced heartbreak and heroics respectively against India yesterday, the next match, between Japan and Malaysia, was crucial for the prospects of each. Malaysia fell short of the intensity they brought yesterday, while for Japan their loss firmed their resolve. Neither team could really gain any scoring rhythm, and the tournament’s lowest scoring game so far ended with Japan the victor by 11-4.

Unbeaten in Pool A, and now near certain to advance to the medal matches, Chinese Taipei and Australia was the next game. World third ranked Chinese Taipei has not lost to 13th ranked Australia for 16 years, and although most meetings between the two longest standing rivals at this tournament are genuine contests, this was not the day for Australia to break that streak. Once again they made Chinese Taipei work, though once again the Asian champion proved stronger, winning by 23-10.

India and Thailand were up next: India keen to move on from their final second loss yesterday afternoon, while despite some encouraging performances, the host has yet to record a win. Two of the most physical teams at the tournament, bringing all their commitment made for a game with several injury breaks, and defence generally on top at each end. Another low scoring game finished at 16-9 to India, meaning Thailand is still hunting its first win.

Also hunting their first win, though with one guaranteed to achieve it, Singapore and Philippines were next. A close contest played in good spirit saw both applying some of the lessons they have learnt over the first two days of the tournament up against the more experienced teams here. In the end Philippines was ahead by 11-8, to record their first win this week, and their first at this tournament, having lost every game at the previous Asia Oceania Korfball Championship, where they made their debut.

Appearing for the second time today in Pool B were both China and Indonesia in the day’s penultimate match. Both showed the effects of three games of international korfball over the preceding days in a match that never really took off, though China was able to keep their game opponent at bay, recording a 21-4 victory to remain unbeaten at the top of Pool B.

Also each playing their second game of the day, Chinese Taipei and Japan were today’s final contestants, the former comfortably maintaining their unbeaten run at this and all Asia Oceania tournaments for the past 16 years, underlining their position as favourite for another gold medal this week with a 22-9 victory.

Tomorrow’s games, rounding out pool play, promise to proceed with less certainty: several of the matchups are far less easy to predict than today’s eight games as final positions in the pool, and chances at qualification for next year’s World Korfball Championship are at stake for several teams. It promises to be an interesting day.

DAY 3 IMAGE GALLERY RECAP (by Krit Suttipithuk)

DAY 2 REVIEW (29/11/2022)

DAY 2 REVIEW (29/11/2022) – By Rob Smith

In the first match on day two of the 11th Asia Oceania Korfball Championship, Japan faced India. Japan was unable to match the uncompromising aggression of their opponent, falling behind from the start and never re-gaining enough ground, to finish the game in deficit at 10-15, A result that shows how close Pool A will be.

Australia and Malaysia were next to take the field, and as in their game yesterday, Australia started slowly before finding the measure of an athletic though relatively inexperienced opponent.

Thailand took on the Asian champion Chinese Taipei in the third game. Although the host team was not overawed by their decorated opponent, fighting to the end, the big difference in score was an accurate indication of the pedigree of the champion next to the inexperience of a nation playing at this level for the first time. 

Hong Kong China and Indonesia was the first Pool B game of the day. This one also followed the form guide, with Indonesia working hard but falling short of a higher ranked opponent, for a final score of 18-6.

New Zealand has contested the past four editions of this tournament, three more than their opponent today, Philippines, and the final score reflected the gulf between the two: 27-8, the second time in two days that New Zealand has been in a game with 30 goals, this time on the positive side of the score line.

China and Singapore provided even more goals, though the match was the most one-sided so far. Again Singapore fought valiantly, though are unable to counter the craft, skill and strategy of more seasoned teams. China has been beaten start to the tournament continues, score: 41-2.

In complete contrast, India versus Malaysia was the closest game of the tournament so far. Malaysia managed to counter the fierce style of India, staying close in a low scoring game, that was decided in spectacular fashion with a final second effort by Eu Ginn Wong: an almost golden goal to break Indian hearts and put Malaysia in prime position for a top eight finish by 11-10.

Returning for the day’s final game, the hosts again put up a spirited performance against a much more experienced opponent, before suffering their third loss. This time it was Australia that defeated Thailand, recording a third victory in two days, this by 18-11, while their opponent has yet to win. 

DAY 2 IMAGE GALLERY RECAP (by Krit Suttipithuk)