Bangladesh women ready for first Japan session

The Bangladesh women’s football team has become the first group from the nation's contingent to arrive in Japan ahead of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, following a preparation camp in China.

​The squad, managed by Peter Butler, reached their hotel in Osaka at 3:00am on Saturday. They made the journey after wrapping up a conditioning camp in Guangzhou, which concluded with a 4-2 defeat to Chinese top-flight side Guangdong Women’s FC in their second practice match. Bangladesh had previously lost the first closed-door friendly 2-0 to the same opponents.

​"After a long journey from China on Friday, we reached our hotel in Osaka at 3:00am on Saturday," goalkeeping coach Masud Ahmed Uzzal said. "We did a light stretching session at noon, and the girls rested after lunch. We will have our first official training session on Sunday."

​Uzzal noted the team held an evening video session to analyse footage from their recent friendlies. "We had a great camp in China with excellent training facilities and accommodation. I thank the Bangladesh Football Federation for this opportunity," he added.

​Making their second Asian Games appearance after debuting at Hangzhou 2023, Bangladesh face a difficult test in Group F against Asian powerhouses North Korea, South Korea, and Myanmar.

​They will begin their campaign against North Korea on 14 September, before facing South Korea on 17 September and Myanmar on 21 September. All group matches will be played at Osaka's Nagai Stadium, kicking off at 2:00 pm Bangladesh time.

​The women's football team is part of a large Bangladesh contingent that will compete across 22 different sporting disciplines at the upcoming Games.