Hockey Tigers gear up for Asian showdown

Bangladesh have begun their final preparations for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy, with all 26 players named in the preliminary squad reporting to the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.

The prestigious tournament will be held in Jalandhar, India, from 27 October to 5 November.

The team’s first official on-field training session is scheduled for 6:30am on Thursday at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium.

Initially, the players will train under local coach Shahidullah Titu, before German head coach Peter Gerhard joins the camp by Friday.

Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) joint secretary Ariful Haque Prince expressed optimism about the team’s participation, describing the opportunity to compete in the Asian Champions Trophy as a positive development for the country’s hockey.

“Having the opportunity to play in a major event like the Asian Champions Trophy is extremely positive and encouraging for our hockey. It will give our players the chance to compete against Asia’s top teams,” he said.

“The long gap without international matches is gradually closing. This tournament will provide our players with the opportunity to play quality international matches.”

Prince added that competing against top sides would help Bangladesh’s players gain valuable experience and improve their performances.

“Facing the top teams will help our players gain valuable experience, which will play a major role in improving their on-field performances and overall standard. Bangladesh will compete in this tournament to strengthen our capabilities and make further progress on the international stage,” he concluded.