Muscat: The Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup campaign for the Bangladesh Jr. women's hockey team is set to begin on Saturday, December 7, in Muscat, Oman. The team departed for Oman on Wednesday with hopes of making a significant impact in the tournament. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the tournament will feature ten teams divided into two groups, similar to the recently concluded men's tournament. Bangladesh is placed in Group A alongside China, defending champions India, Thailand, and Malaysia. Group B comprises Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Chinese Taipei. The competition is poised to be fierce, with the final scheduled for December 15. The stakes are high as the top five teams will secure qualification for the 2025 Women's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup, set to be held in Chile next year. Bangladesh will kick off their campaign against China on December 7, followed by a match against India on December 8. They will then face Thailand and Malaysia on December 10 and 11, respectively. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh U-21 men's hockey team has already made history by qualifying for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup for the first time, following a commanding 7-2 victory over Thailand in the Junior Asia Cup.
