Gaining experience the priority
Bangladesh’s hockey players are set to gather new experience when they begin their campaign in the 8th Indoor Hockey Asia Cup, starting from July 15 in Chonburi, Thailand.
Bangladesh have never played six-a-side indoor hockey, which is played on a rubber surface. However, the new committee of Bangladesh Hockey Federation decided to send a team to this event where Asia’s top teams in outdoor hockey like India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea are absent while teams like Iran, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have dominated the show in previous seven editions.
Bangladesh were pitted against Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines in Pool A while Pool B features Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Myanmar and Nepal.
“Indoor hockey is a new experience for the players. As we are going to take part in indoor hockey for the first time, our target is to gather experience and go match by match,” said coach Zahid Hossain Raju, who however does not see any possibility for Bangladesh to reach the semifinals.
“We have been placed in a strong group alongside seven-time champions Iran and three-time runners-up Malaysia, but we are looking forward to putting our best on the back of a month-long training,” said Raju, who has been with the team since training camp started in late May. Iranian coach Hamid Reza Bokharaei, who trained the players for three weeks, will join the team in Thailand.
Meanwhile, the team was scheduled to depart for Thailand this morning but their departure is likely to be delayed by one day as the players and officials were yet to get Thai visas till the report was filed last night.
Squad
Ashim Gope, Abu Sayeed Nippon, Imran Hasan Pintu, Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, Ashraful Islam, Khorshedur Rahman, Fahad Ahmed Shitul, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Sarwar Hossain, Mainul Islam Kawshik, Milon Hossain and Ruman Sarkar.
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