IT was a double celebration for Ian Grobbelaar, who struck a brace in
Australia’s 2-1 win over India in the final of the 2025 Sultan of Johor Cup at
Johor Hockey Stadium in Taman Daya, Johor Bahru on Saturday.
Not only did Grobbelaar end Australia’s run of defeat in three previous
consecutive finals, but he also walked away with the Man of the Match
award.
Goalkeeper Magnus McCausland added to Australia’s night of celebration
by taking the Best Goalkeeper award. Pakistan’s prolific forward Abdul
Hannan Shahid received the Best Player of the Tournament award while
teammate drag-flick specialist Sufyan Khan received the Top Scorer Award
(9 goals).
The final was witnessed by more than 3,000 fans that included Tuan Mohd
Hairi Mad Shah, Johor State Youth, Sports, Entrepreneurship Development
& Cooperative Committee Chairman and invited dignitaries.
The tone was set early, with Australia finding the back of the net in the 13 th
minute through Ian Grobbelaar from a penalty corner conversion which
goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh failed to defend.
The Indians, however, kept up the pressure and eventually broke through
when they earned a penalty corner in the 17 th minute. Anmol Ekka
confidently placed the ball past goalkeeper Magnus to level the score at 1-1.
Just as India began to find their rhythm in the last five minutes of the
match, the Burras earned their sixth penalty corner of the match in the 59 th
minute and Grobbelaar once again rose to score, giving Australia a 2-1 lead.
The Indians, however, had all the opportunities to level the score in the last
minute of play. They enjoyed six consecutive penalty corners in the last 50
seconds of play, but goalkeeper McCausland and his band of defenders
stopped the Indians from scoring that all one goal that would have turned
the match around.
Australia played in its seventh final and were successful in 2016 and 2017,
while India qualified for its eighth final. They emerged champions in 2013,
2014 and 2022.
Australia had a streak of bad luck in the finals of the last three editions. In
2022, the Burras lost 5-4 to India in the shootout following a 1-1 draw in
regulation. The second blow came in 2023 against Germany. The match
ended in a scoreless draw, but the Germans went on to lift the title 3-1 in a
shootout.
In the 2024 edition, Great Britain defeated Australia 3-2 to win their fourth
Sultan of Johor Cup title.
The tournament was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19
pandemic.
ROLL OF HONOUR:
Champion: Australia
Runner-up: India
Third: Great Britain
Fourth: Pakistan
Fifth: Malaysia
Sixth: New Zealand
Man of the Match Final: Ian Grobbelaar (Australia)
Best Player of the Tournament: Abdul Hannan Shahid (Pakistan)
Top Goal Scorer: Sufyan Khan (9 Goals, Pakistan)
Best Goalkeeper: Marcus McCausland (Australia)
