Bangladesh team qualified for the Asian Games Hockey, 2022 beating Sri Lanka by 3-1 goal in their 2nd Pool B match of the nine-nation Men’s Asian Games Hockey Qualifier at Queen Sirkit Commemorative Stadium in Pathumthani of Thai capital Bangkok on Tuesday.
With the day’s feat, Bangladesh team not only confirmed their berth in the Asian Games Hockey but also reached the semifinal of the Men’s Asian Games Field Hockey qualifier with one match to spare against lowly Singapore.
By virtue of the 2nd successive victory, the men in red and green Bangladesh comfortably took a solo lead in the Pool B of the qualifying round with all-win record securing full six points from straight two matches.
Bangladesh team, which was placed in four-team Pool B of the Asian Games Qualifier with Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Singapore, will play lowly Singapore on May 12 in their remaining group match.
In the day’s match, Ashraful Islam put Bangladesh ahead in the 3rd minute of the 2nd quarter by a penalty corner after goalless in first quarter (1-0).
Bangladesh sounded their margin in the 8th minute of the same quarter from a penalty stroke (2-0).
Sri Lanka pulled the margin one back in the last minute of the 3rd quarter after spoiling five consecutive penalty corners (2-1).
Roman Sarkar sealed the fate of the match scoring the 3rd goal for Bangladesh in the 8th minute of the 4th and final quarter (3-1).
Sri Lanka managed a penalty corner just 28 seconds before the match over but failed to score.
Earlier on Saturday, Bangladesh team made a good start in the nine-nation Asian Games Qualifier beating Indonesia by 3-1 goal with medio Sarwar Hossain, forward Pushkar Khisha Mimo and midfielder Fazle Hossain Rabbi scoring one field goal each for Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka also made a flying start in the Asian Games qualifier outplaying Singapore by 5-2 goal in their first match last Saturday.
On completion of the Asian Games qualifier, Bangladesh team led by new captain Khorshedur Rahman will travel to Indonesia directly from Thailand to compete in the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey to be held in Jakarta from May 23 to June 1.
In the eight- nation Hero Men’s Asia Cup Hockey, Bangladesh team also has 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.
Earlier, Bangladesh qualified for the Hero Men’s Asia Cup Hockey by clinching the Men’s AHF Cup Hockey title for the fourth consecutive times in Jakarta last March.
Source: United News of Bangladesh