Bangladesh’s national hockey team made a good start to the nine-nation Men’s Asian Games Qualifiers, defeating Indonesia 3-1 in Saturday’s match in Thai capital Bangkok.
In March last too, Bangladesh outplayed hosts Indonesia 7-2 in the AHF Cup Hockey Tournament.
Bangladesh, which was placed in four-team Pool B of the Men’s Asian Games Qualifiers with Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Singapore, will face Sri Lanka on May 10 and Singapore on May 12 in the remaining group matches.
In the day’s first match in Bangkok, Sarwar Hossain put Bangladesh ahead by a field goal in the 10th minute of the match (1-0).
Forward Pushkar Khisha Mimo doubled the Bangladesh margin in the eighth minute of the 2nd quarter also by a field goal (2-0).
Indonesia reduced the margin in the ninth minute of the 3rd quarter (2-1).
Finally, midfielder Fazle Hossain Rabbi sealed the fate of the match scoring one more field goal in the 10th minute of the quarter (3-1).
Bangladesh captain Rezaul Karim Babu displayed his brilliance in the field and was adjudged man of the match.
The Men’s Asian Games Hockey Qualifier began in Bangkok on Friday (May 6), despite the Asian Games Authority on the same day deferring the Hangzhou Asian Games indefinitely amid a recent surge in Covid-19 cases in China, the host country.
The Hangzhou Asian Games was scheduled for September 10-25 this year in China.
On completion of the Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers, the Bangladesh team, led by new captain Khorshedur Rahman, will travel to Indonesia to compete in the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey in Jakarta from May 23 to June 1.
In the eight-nation Hero Men’s Asia Cup Hockey, Bangladesh has also been placed in Pool B with Malaysia, Korea and Oman.
Bangladesh will face Korea on May 23, Oman on May 24 and Malaysia on May 26.
Bangladesh squad:
Goalkeepers: Biplob Kujur, Abu Sayeed Nippon
Defenders: Khorshedur Rahman, Farhd Ahmed Shitul, Ashraful Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Rezaul Karim Babu, Shohanur Rahman Sabuj.
Midfielders: Sarwar Hossain, Roman Sarkar, Naim Uddin, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Prince Lal Samanta.
Forwards: Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, Milon Hossain, Pushkor Khisha Mimo, Arshad Hossain, Rakibul Hasan Rocky (Jr).
Source: United News of Bangladesh