JOHOR BARU: Defending champion India and Great Britain will go head-to-head to secure a fourth Sultan of Johor Cup title.
Both teams have won the title three times and will be favorites to try and snatch the title for a record fourth time.
India was the winner in 2013, 2014, and 2022 while Britain won in 2015, 2018, and 2019.
They will have to battle with three other former winners. Australia were two-time winners in 2016 and 2017 while Germany and Malaysia won their titles in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Only Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa have yet to win. Pakistan made the final in 2016 but lost to Australia 1-3.
This year the competition will see an eight-team tournament and is expected to be a closely fought affair.
Seven of the teams at this year’s Sultan of Johor Cup will also feature in the Junior World Cup later at the Bukit Jalil Stadium from December 5-16.
Britain, as England. failed to qualify for this year’s Junior World Cup.
For the record, only five teams have won the Junior World Cup since its inception in 1979. And four of them will be playing in the 2023 Sultan of Johor Cup. They are Germany, India, Australia, and Pakistan.
Pakistan was the inaugural winner in 1979, their only triumph at the World Level.
Germany is the Junior-level expert, having won the trophy six times. They initially won the title four times in 1982, 1985, 1989, and 1993. Then again in 2009 and 2013.
India were winners in 2001 and 2016 while Australia managed to win their sole title in 1997.
Argentina, Junior World Cup winners in 2005 and 2021, have yet to play in the Sultan of Johor Cup.