Dhaka – Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) on Sunday announced a 22-member final squad of the Women’s Hockey team to participate in the Women’s Junior (U-21) AHF Cup Hockey Qualifiers scheduled to be held from September 9–15 in Singapore.
Bangladesh team will leave Dhaka for Singapore Wednesday (September 4) morning at 8:20 am.Six Asian countries–Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, debutants Bangladesh and hosts Singapore–will participate in the ensuing tournament on round robin basis while Nepal quitted from the meet at the eleventh hour, confirmed Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
Bangladesh will play the first game against Singapore on September 9, Sri Lanka on September 10, Hong Kong on September 11, Uzbekistan on September 13 and Chinese Taipei on September 15 respectively.
The two top teams of the competition will be qualified for the final round of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup in Japan on October 2020 along-side China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, who are directly qualified for the meet based on their results in the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2015.
BHF General Secretary AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed announced the final squad of the women’s hockey team, comprising of 18 players and four officials during a jersey unveiling ceremony of the team at pre-tour press conference at Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium on Sunday.
Addressing the pressmen, Mominul Haque Sayeed said “Bangladesh women’s hockey team for the first time is going to play in the international hockey tournament. It will create a new door for us. Hockey federation will do everything to run women’s hockey in Bangladesh.”
Advisory Indian coach of Bangladesh Women’s Hockey Team Ajay Kumar Bansal said, “We should not worry about the results, we should concentrate on their performances. I do hope the team will be a one of the best team in future.”
Bangladesh women’s hockey team captain Ritu Khanom assured that they will do their best in the tournament.“For the first time, we are going to play in an international tournament, we will try to give our best there,” Ritu said.
BHF’s senior vice-president Abdur Rashid Shikdar, Senior vice-president of the First Security Islami Bank Ltd. Shahazada Basunia, AGM of Walton Group Mehrab Hossain Asif were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, Bangladesh Women’s Hockey team played a six-match series against Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) National Academy Women’s Hockey team at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium from August 20 to 28, as a part of their preparation for the competition, but lost all the six matches.
Bangladesh Women’s Hockey team: Sumi Aktar, Riya Aktar Swarna (VC), Ritu Khanom (C), Joyariya Ferdousi Joita, Mukta Khatun, Rani Aktar Riamoni, Parvin Aktar, Lima Khatun, Fardia Aktar Ratri, Sanjida, Aktar Sathi, Sanjida Ajtar Moni, Mokseda Munni, Nadira, Nomita Sarkar, Sadia Khatun, Tarin Aktar Khushi, Arpita Paul and Tasmim Aktar Mim.
Officials: Tariquzzaman Nannu (Head Coach), Hedayatul Islam Rajib (Assistant Coach), Shahidullah Titu (Assistant Coach) and Parvin Nasima Putul (Coordinator).UNB
