Dhaka – Bangladesh Under-21 Hockey team, now preparing for the next-year Junior Asia Cup in Dhaka, made a flying start in the Walton five-match practice series beating Oman U-21 team by 5-1 goals in the opening match at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday.
Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mohammad Akhter Hossain inaugurated the five-match series at a simple ceremony in the afternoon.
In the day’s match, captain Ashraful Islam put Bangladesh team ahead from a penalty corner (1-0), Arshad Hossain doubled the margin by a field goal (2-0), both in the first quarter, Shohanur Rahman Shohan scored the 3rd goal for the home side from a penalty corner in the 2nd quarter to dominate the match 3-0 during break.
Nayem Uddin and Mahbub Hossain scored two more goals in the remaining part of the match (5-0) while Rashed Al Fazarai scored the face-saving goal for Oman in the 42nd minute (5-1).
In the remaining matches, Bangladesh Youth team will play Oman on Wednesday (Oct 9) at 6 pm, on Friday (Oct 11) at 4 pm, on Saturday (Oct 12) at 6 pm and on Tuesday (Oct 15) at 4 pm.
Oman Under-21 Hockey team arrived in the capital on Monday from Pakistan after playing four preparatory matches there responding to invitation of Bangladesh Hockey Federation as part of Bangladesh team’s preparation for the next year’s Junior Asia Cup in Dhaka, a qualifying meet for the Junior Hockey World Cup.
Bangladesh Hockey Federation earlier decided to host Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2020 in June and Asian Champions Trophy in October next year, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.UNB
