Bangladesh youth hockey team’s miserable run in the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games continued as they crashed out of the meet after losing 4-3 against South Africa in their last group stage game at the Nanjing YOG Sports Park in Nanjing, China yesterday.
Disappointing to say the least, it was Bangladesh’s fourth consecutive defeat in the five-a-side event of the Games although the young guns produced a comparatively better display this time around after they had lost the previous ones by 9-1, 5-2 and 4-1 against Spain, Australia and Canada respectively.
South Africa took the lead after just seven minutes through Dlungwana Tyson Sbongu before Naim Uddin equalised for Bangladesh in the 14th minute. South Africa regained their lead four minutes later with Ntuli Nqobile Mansuet, but the joy lasted for only 36 seconds as Mohammad Fazle Hossain Rabby restored parity for Bangladesh.
Interestingly, this circle of conceding first and then scoring to come back into the match continued for Bangladesh as Mansuet netted his second of the day in the 22nd minute before Deen Islam Emon leveled for Bangladesh six minutes later. South Africa, however, had the last laugh when Mansuet completed his hat-trick to seal the victory in the 31st minute.
With the victory, South Africa confirmed their place in the quarterfinals while Bangladesh will now play a play-off match for the ninth place.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s below par performance in shooting and swimming saw them crash out from the qualifiers. The last and only hope of Bangladesh’s success in the Games now rest with the archery team which takes the field tomorrow.
