Twenty-six provisionally selected players of the Bangladesh national hockey team reported to the training camp at Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming Hero Asian Champions Trophy in India.
The tournament will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5, with Bangladesh set to compete against Asia’s leading hockey nations after being included following Pakistan’s withdrawal.
The team's first on-field training session is scheduled for Thursday under local coach Shahidullah Titu, while German coach Peter Gerhard is expected to join the camp by Friday.
Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) joint secretary Ariful Haque Prince expressed optimism about the team's participation, saying the tournament would provide the players with valuable exposure to high-level international competition.
“Playing in a major event like the Asian Champions Trophy is a positive and encouraging development for Bangladesh hockey. It will give our players the opportunity to compete against Asia's top teams,” he said.
Prince added that participation in the tournament would help the team overcome the challenges posed by a prolonged absence from international competition and gain valuable experience against stronger opponents.
“Facing top teams will help our players gain valuable experience, which will contribute to improving their performance and overall standard of play. Bangladesh will compete in the tournament with the aim of strengthening its capabilities and making further progress on the international stage,” he said.
The BHF hopes the intensive training camp will help the team regain its best form and deliver a positive performance in India.
Bangladesh will join hosts India, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and China in the six-team tournament. The Tigers are scheduled to play their opening match on October 27.