ZCZC
BSP-13
HOCKEY-JUNIOR-ASIA CUP
Junior Asia Cup Hockey put back again
DHAKA, Oct. 28, 2020 (BSS)- The Bangabandhu Junior Asia Cup Hockey, which was scheduled to be held from January 21-30 next year, has been deferred again.
The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) proposed the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to arrange the tournament in June next.
Talking to BSS today, BHF acting general secretary Mohammad Yousuf said the due to the probable second wave of COVID-19 in the coming winter they have communicated with AHF to defer the tournament to June and the AHF, after adjusting the date with International Hockey Federation, will inform the BHF a new date later on.
The BHF acting general secretary however said the Champions Trophy will be held in due time in March so the national team’s camp will start within a few days after postponing the on-going youth team’s training camp.
Yousuf said if the government decides not to hold the tournament a month ago as well, the federation would be in trouble. So the BHF, after taking consent from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has decided to defer the tournament.
The tournament was scheduled in June this year to celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the National Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The BHF put back the tournament to January next year due to COVID-19 pandemic. Now the BHF again deferred the tournament to June 2021.
Bangladesh have been pitted in the tough Group A of the ten-nation Bangabandu Under-21 Junior Asia Cup Hockey scheduled for January 21-30 at the Mawlana Bhashani National Stadium in Dhaka.
While Japan, Malaysia, China, Uzbekistan and Singapore were put in comparatively easier group B.
Earlier, Bangladesh reached the quarter final of the meet in Malaysia in 2015 beating Oman by 5-4 goals, South Korea 2-0 and lost to Pakistan by 1-3 goals in group stage.
In the quarterfinal, Bangladesh suffered a 0-3 defeat drubbing against Japan while suffered a crushing 0-8 goals defeat against hosts Malaysia in a place-deciding match.
BSS/SG/AU/18:25 hrs