Hosts eyeing final

Hosts Bangladesh will have their eyes on the final of the 4th Boys' U-18 Asia Cup when the seven-nation hockey tournament gets underway at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Bangladesh will play their first match of Pool A against India on the opening day, with Oman being the other team in that pool. Pool B features Pakistan, China, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong.

“Considering previous records of age-group teams, we are hopeful about reaching the final this time. As India are a strong side, our target will be to beat Pakistan [in semifinals] and reach the final,” hoped Bangladesh Hockey Federation's vice president Khaza Rahmatullah at a press briefing yesterday.

“The boys have been preparing for nearly two months and they have played a couple of practice matches against Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy. They will play another warm-up match tomorrow [Wednesday] against Army,” Rahmatullah said, adding that the under-18 team includes four national players – Rumman Sarker, Fazle Rabbi, Arshad Hossain and Ashraful Islam.

India and Chinese Taipei were scheduled to land here last night while the other teams are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.  

Beximco Group is sponsoring the tournament as part of the company's long-term plan to be involved with the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), said the company's director Azmol Kabir.

BHF general secretary Abdus Sadeque, vice president Shafiullah Al Munir, joint secretary Anvir Adel and members Ehsan Rana and Rafiqul Islam Kamal were, among others, present at the press conference.