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Bangladesh to face Japan in hockey opener

  • Sports Correspondent
  • 10 August, 2023 12:00 AM
  • Print news

Bangladesh, which were put in the six-team Pool A, will face defending champions Japan in their opening match of the 19th Asian Games men’s hockey at Gongshu Canal Sports Park Field Hockey Field in Hangzhou, China on September 24.

Japan secured the gold medal of the Asian Games 2018 beating Malaysia by (3)6-(1)6 goals in the final while India secured bronze beating arch-rivals Pakistan by 2-1 goals.

Bangladesh will play their other matches against Pakistan on September 26, Singapore on September 28, Uzbekistan on September 30 and the third-placed India on October 2.

The Pool B comprises runners-up Malaysia, Korea, China, Oman, Thailand and Indonesia. The fixture was published Wednesday night.

Bangladesh earlier secured a quota for the games as they became runners-up in qualifiers held in Thailand in May 2022 conceding a 6-2 goals defeat to Oman in the final of that nine-team qualifiers.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hockey Federation announced an 18-member final squad for the Asian Games after more than a month-long training on Tuesday.

Bangladesh squad: Biplob Kujur, Nuruzzaman Noyan, Farhad Ahmed Shitul, Ashraful Islam, Sohanur Rahman Sobuj, Rezaul Karim Babu, Amirul Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Roman Sarkar, Nayeem Uddin, Al Nahian Shuvo, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Hufaiza Hossain, Russell Mahmud Jimmy, Rokibul Islam, Puskor Khisa, Arshad Hossan and Milom Hossain.

Standbys: Shohidul Islam Saikat, Abed Uddin, Saijuddin and Abdullah.

Officials: Mahbubul Ahsan Rana (manager), Shahidullah Titu (assistant manager) and Young Kim Kum (head coach).