Indian hockey lesson for women’s team

Bangladesh under-21 women’s hockey team began their preparation for the upcoming Junior Women’s AHF Cup with a 6-0 defeat against an Indian academy side in the first of their six-match series at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.

The defeat was expected for the home side, who took up the sticks only last year and had no prior experience of playing international matches except for a three-match exhibition series against Kolkata Warriors in November last year.

Although the Bangladesh girls need were far from convincing in their skill, running, hitting and position sense, they kept their opponents from Sports Authority of India (SAI) academy at bay in the first quarter. They also denied the Indian side from scoring at least 10 penalty corners.

The Indian team broke the deadlock in the 18th minute from a penalty stroke before the lead was doubled two minutes later. The visitors went into the break with a 3-0 lead.

In the third quarter, India scored two more goals and added the last one in the fourth and final quarter.

“The girls never played such competitive international match under such pressure even though they played three matches against a Kolkata side, which was comparatively weaker than them. If the girls can get rid of pressure in the remaining matches, they can hopefully do well in Junior Women’s AHF Cup in Singapore next month,” coach Hedayetul Islam Razib said after the match.

The second match will be played tomorrow.