Bangladesh opens their Islami Bank Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers against Hong Kong China at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium at 4pm today.
In the last edition of the hockey qualifiers in 2010 Hong Kong held Bangladesh to a 2-2 draw, but Bangladesh hold the upper hand as they beat the same opponents 6-1 in their last encounter in the World Hockey League. Bangladesh skipper Mamunur Rahman Chayan expects to go off a winning note. “We are not taking any match lightly, we have respect for Hong Kong and we will take the field with all our cylinders firing. We want to make a winning start and make an impact,” said the drag and flick specialist.
Mark Kawiti Kake, the New Zealander coach of Hong Kong, said his team is ready for the challenge. “Bangladesh is a strong team and we are ready to fight it out, we will not let anything go without a fight,” said Kake.
Meanwhile Oman kicked off their Islami Bank Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers with Khalfan Qasim Moosa scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win over Chinese Taipeiwhile Sri Lanka was held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in the opening day matches yesterday.
Oman started in an attacking mode as Chinese Taipei opted for a counter attacking strategy in an evenly contested match.
Chen Yuan Fan, the Chinese Taipei skipper failed to flick the ball into an open net in the 25th minute while two minutes later Rajab Basim Khatar, the tall Omanese forward made his way through the Taipei defence only to see his weak push cleared from the goal line.
Oman took the lead in the 47th minute after Rajab Basim Khatar cut a fierce cross from the right flank as Khalfan took control at the left edge of the box before striking the board with a fierce reverse hit. Rajab Basim Khatar was adjudged as the man of match.
Meanwhile in the second match, Qatar took the lead in the 25th minute through a combined attack. Midfielder Ali Sheraj saw his fierce hit rebound off the pad of Ishara Madhushanka as unmarked forward Aslam Adnan unleashed a fierce hit to score.
Sri Lanka reacted sharply and initiated a series of attacks but lack of finishing saw the chances go wide. In the 33rd minute Shanaka Nandaslochana missed and open net in a one-on-one situation with the Qatar goalkeeper Ali Shazad.
In the 44th minute Sanadaruwan Priyalanka saw his hit miss the side post by a whisker while three minute later Chulalankara Asanka’s slap hit was saved by Shahzad once again.
The lead was however cancelled three minutes before the stipulated time when Sri Lankan midfielder Sanadaruwan Priyalanka equalised with a reverse hit from the edge of the box.
