Womens hockey team faces SAI in first match today
Indian team reach Dhaka to play six preparation matches
SPORTS REPORTER, Dhaka
Bangladesh Women Hockey team will play six preparation matches against the visiting a Indian women (junior) hockey team ahead of the upcoming coming Junior AHF Cup Under-21.
The Junior AHF Cup Under-21 will take place in Singapore from September 9-15 where Bangladesh were drawn in the Group B along with Hong Kong, China, Nepal and Sri Lanka, while the Group A comprised with China Taipei, Singapore and Uzbekistan.
However, Bangladesh women team have been taking preparation under Indian coach Ajoy Kumar Bansal for last three days when the team are in the residential camp from July 8 at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium with Hadayetul Islam Rajib has been looking after the team
Officials of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) informed all in a press conference yesterday.
Bansal when talking in the press conference said, I was anxious with this Bangladesh women team before coming here, what would be their level. But after coming here, I found the girls are very talented. It would be not wise to expect something more from them right now, because the girls are simply on learning process. But Hopefully they would be a strong side in Asia in coming two years, now we are working with them.
Now in the Under-21 squad 26 women are in the camp, coach Bansal will make the short list of 18 players after watching first three matches of the six preparation matches will start from today at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium while four players will be standby list.
Jobaira Ferdous, a defender who was in the press meet said, We are excited having the opportunity to play preparation matches against a foreign team before to take part in the tournament.
After playing these preparation matches we would be able to realize what we will do in the competition. These preparation matches will help us much before to play in Singapore, as we could understand what we have learned, we could rectify our our mistakes, said Ferdous.
Rashid Sikder, one of the vice-presidents of the BHF, coaches Ajoy Bansal and Hadayetul Islam Rajjib, four players were present in the press conference.
