Today marks a historic day for Bangladesh hockey. In the ongoing Asian Under-21 Hockey Tournament in Muscat, Oman, Bangladesh secured their spot in the Junior World Cup with a commanding 7-2 victory over Thailand. With this win, Bangladesh will now play the fifth and sixth place decider. Even if they lose that match, a sixth-place finish will be enough to qualify for the World Cup.
Next year, the Junior World Cup will feature seven teams from Asia, including hosts India. India has already secured their place in the tournament by reaching the Asian Under-21 Hockey semifinals. This means Bangladesh’s qualification among the remaining six teams is now beyond doubt.
The Junior Asia Cup began on November 26 in Muscat with 10 teams competing in the men’s category. In Group B, Bangladesh kicked off with a 3-1 victory over Oman but suffered a 6-0 defeat against Pakistan in their second match. They then held strong teams like Malaysia and China to 2-2 and 1-1 draws, respectively. Finally, today’s anticipated win secured their place in the World Cup.
Bangladeshi players celebrated with sheer joy, knowing a long-held dream had come true. Through the efforts of these young athletes, a bright and cheerful day has arrived for Bangladesh hockey, breaking the cycle of disappointment in the sport.
