Bangladesh Under-18 men's hockey team is set to clash with Malaysia on Sunday, in the 3rd/4th place-deciding match of the Men’s U-18 Asia Cup Hockey. The crucial encounter will take place at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre in China, with push-back scheduled for 6:30 PM Bangladesh time.
Bangladesh enters this bronze medal fixture having finished as runners-up in Pool A. Their journey to the semi-finals was marked by a strong group stage performance, securing three victories and suffering just one defeat. The 'boys in red and green' showcased their attacking prowess with dominant wins over hosts China (5-2), Hong Kong (3-0), and a resounding 13-0 triumph against Sri Lanka. Their sole group stage loss came against the formidable Pakistan, who defeated them 6-3.
However, Bangladesh's hopes of reaching the final were dashed in a hard-fought semi-final encounter against a strong Japan side, where they ultimately succumbed to a 6-4 defeat. Despite leading early in that match, they were unable to hold off Japan's late surge.
Their opponents, Malaysia, also experienced semi-final heartbreak. They faced Pakistan in a thrilling contest that ended 3-3 in regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout. In a nail-biting finish, Malaysia narrowly lost 4-3 in the shootout, missing out on a place in the final. This sets up an intriguing battle for third place, with both teams eager to conclude their tournament with a medal.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh women’s U-18 hockey team will also be in action today, contesting their own 3rd/4th place-deciding match. They are scheduled to face Kazakhstan at 6:00 PM Bangladesh time, aiming to secure a bronze medal in their inaugural appearance at the U-18 Asia Cup.
Both Bangladeshi teams will be looking to bounce back from their semi-final disappointments and finish their respective campaigns on a high note, bringing home a medal from the continental championship.
