Abrar Hussain: The Bangladesh Hockey team have accomplished finishing 6th in the 12-team 18th Asian Games Men’s Hockey by defeating Thailand by a score of 3-1 in their 4th Pool B match at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Hockey field in Jakarta on Sunday.
After the 3rd win in their four matches, Bangladesh not only maintained their all-win record against Thailand, but also qualified to play directly in the final round of the Asian Games and Asia Cup Hockey, avoiding the qualifying rounds, reported UNB.
In the remaining Pool B match, Bangladesh will play Pakistan today at 5 pm Bangladesh time.
After a barren result in first two quarters of the day’s match, Mohammad Ashraful Islam, who missed the last match against Malaysia due to injury, struck twice for Bangladesh in the 35th and 41st minutes of the 3rd quarter, both from penalty corners (2-0).
In the 4th last and final quarter, Borirak Harapan scored the first goal for Thailand in the meet to reduce the margin in the 47th minute (2-1) while Mohammad Milon Hossain sealed the fate of the match scoring one more goal in the 55th minute (3-1).
On completion of four Pool B matches, Bangladesh were in the 3rd slot in the six-team group securing nine points with three wins and one defeat while their main opponent Oman were in the 4th slot bagging six points from four outings.
Pakistan and Malaysia dominated the Group B securing full nine points from three matches with huge goal difference were scheduled meet each other on Sunday evening to decide the group crown.