‘Highly motivated’ BD take on hosts

Bangladesh national hockey team are eager to begin their AHF Cup campaign on a positive note when the defending champions take on hosts Indonesia in one of four matches on the opening day in Jakarta today.

"The players are highly motivated as they know that we are playing the host nation. Indonesia have been training for a long time for this competition with a foreign coach. But we hope to get a good start," said Bangladesh coach Iman Gobinathan Krishnamurthy yesterday.

The men in red and green are likely to face a surprise challenge from hosts Indonesia, a side who have been training under a foreign coach for a year.