Mongolia won the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia for the second time in a row ©MIHF

Mongolia successfully defended their International Ice Hockey Federation Challenge Cup of Asia title as they beat The Philippines 6-3 in today's final in Kuala Lumpur.

The Central Asian nation won their first crown at this event last year when they topped a round-robin pool on goal difference.

A knock-out format was adopted this year but the outcome was the same at the Malaysian capital's National Ice Skating Stadium.

The final was a fantastic contest as Mongolia opened up a 3-0 lead before being pegged back to 3-3.

Bayarsaikhan Jargalsaikhan, Erdenesukh Bold and Gerelt Ider all scored in the first period to leave the Filipinos with a mountain to climb.

Julius Frederick Santiago scored the only goal of the second period to give The Philippines a glimmer of hope, however, and Jose Cadiz and Jan Regencia drew them level in the third.



They could not keep the momentum going as Mongolia struck three more times to secure the title.

Jargalsaikhan scored twice to complete his hat-trick, either side of Bold's second of the final.

The result was an exact reverse of the group stage fixture between the two sides which The Philippines won 6-3.

Both sides had already booked their place in the semi-finals at that point, however.

Singapore won the bronze medals by beating hosts Malaysia 4-0.