Bangladesh national U-21 hockey team left the country on Saturday for Muscat, Oman to take part in the Men's Junior Asia Cup with a high hope to secure a room in the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup 2025.
Moududur Rahman Shuvo is going to Oman as the coach of the team when the former national star is very much optimis and also thinks that Bangladesh team have every possibility to qualfy in the junior Hockey World Cup, will be held in India with six top teams from Asia including the hosts will play.
Moudus when talking to the reporters said, “Our first and only target to be secure the third position, as the third placed team will also qualify for the qualification phase.”
Bangladesh, will have the host Oman, Pakistan, China and Malyasia in their group. Moudur, rating Pakistan and Malaysia the top favourotes told, “China developed a much but we have ability to beat them and have recent experiences with defeating Oman.”
The 11th edition of the Junior Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in Oman from November 26 to December 4, with 10 teams, split into two groups, competing in the tournament. The top six teams will qualify for the 2025 Hockey Junior World Cup.
Meanwhile, a total of four teams from Asia competed in the 16-team Junior World Cup last year. However, International Hockey Federation (FIH) this time decided to increase the number of participants to 24 in the upcoming Junior World Cup, allotting six spots for teams from Asia.
Bangladesh, who have been placed in Pool B, entered into the Junior Asia Cup after emerging champions in the qualifiers with a 7-6 win over hosts Oman in the final in January.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Under-21 Women Hockey team will also go to Oman to play the qualifying phase for the Junior Women’s World Cup 2025 when five women’s teams from Asia will have the opportunity to play.
Bangladesh women team had three months preparation for the competiion but had not any opportunity to play any warm up match with any foreign team.
Women’s team coach, former national player Raju said, “We willgoing with three onths preparation, though have no occasion to play any warm up match against foreign team, we will try to qualify in the World Cup.”
Women team scheduled to leave the country or Omanon Decmeber 3.
