ZCZC
BSP-20
HOCKEY-CAMP-POSTPONE
BHF postpone national hockey team’s training camp
DHAKA, Jan 25, 2021 (BSS)- The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF)
postponed the national hockey team’s ongoing training camp from tomorrow
after Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) officially informed the BHF about the
postponement of Men’s Asian Champions Trophy scheduled for March in Dhaka.
Earlier on Friday last, the AHF postponed the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy
citing the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“Yes, we are officially informed by the AHF on Sunday last night about the
postponement of the tournament through mail … As we’ve been officially
informed, so we decided to postpone the ongoing national team’s training camp
from tomorrow,” said the BHF acting General Secretary Mohammad Yousuf to BSS
today.
Continuing the training camp at the moment means involved a huge amount of
money. As the tournament has been differed again and the tentative date of
the tournament is in October so we’ll again start the camp when AHF will
announce the fresh date of the tournament, he added.
Asked why the AHF suddenly took the decision about the postponement of the
tournament, Yousuf said the AHF asked us for some queries and then the AHF
sat with the other participating countries… A lock-down is currently
underway in Korea and Malaysia so that the two countries carried the messages
to the AHF for being unable to take part in the tournament in this situation.
The senior hockey team started their training camp on January 10 last at
Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium under the supervision of head coach
Mahbub Harun.
Bangladesh is waiting for its debut in sixth edition of Asian Champions
Trophy which was scheduled to be held from March 11 to 19 in Dhaka.
First held in 2011, this will be the sixth edition of the continental
tournament with India who has won it three times– 2011, 2016 and 2018–as
they awarded the title jointly with Pakistan.
The Men’s Asian Champions Trophy, the elite hockey competition of the
continent, featuring India, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and host
Bangladesh.
BSS/SG/SSS/1830 hrs