Bangladesh made a flying start in the Islami Bank Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers outplaying Hong Kong China by 5-1 goals in their first match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium on Sunday. Bangladesh skipper, drag and flick specialist Mamunur Rahman Chayan slammed the first hat-trick of the meet. The other two goals were netted by forwards Mainul Islam Koushik and Hasan Jubaer Niloy. Bangladesh had to wait till the 24th minute to break the deadlock when Chayan scored his first goal. Nannu’s push and Sarwar’s stop was enough for Chayan who dragged the ball into the roof of the post (1-0). Chayan dragged his second in 32nd minute (2-0) and the third in the 45th minute. The third one, however, was not a dragged one but a low push (3-0). Koushik flicked a cracking hit of Niloy in the 54th minute to make it 4-0 and in the next minute Niloy scored the fifth with a slap hit after Rabbi Salehin’s hit rebounded off the pad of Hong Kong goalie H. Andrews. Hong Kong’s consolation was scored by skipper Md. Arif off a penalty corner in the 58th minute (5-1). – UNB
