Bangladesh girls emerge as unbeaten champions in China
The Bangladesh Junior Women’s Hockey Team (Under-20) stunned everyone by emerging as the unbeaten champions in the Challengers Group of the ongoing Junior Asia Cup Hockey in China.
They thrashed Hong Kong China 6-0 in Moki, Inner Mongolia, China, on Wednesday.
The win gave Bangladesh four victories from four matches and a maximum 12 points, confirming them as unbeaten champions of the Challenger Pool and sending them into the quarter-finals.
Bangladesh began their campaign with a remarkable 7-0 victory over Chinese Taipei before thrashing Pakistan 5-1 and Kazakhstan 4-0 in their next two matches.
The latest victory saw the Tigresses finish the pool stage with a perfect 12 points, setting up a quarterfinal clash against the third-placed team from the Elite Pool.
Bangladesh finished ninth in their maiden Women’s Junior Asia Cup appearance in 2024 after losing all their pool matches.
They have now not only improved on their debut finish to guarantee a top-six position, but also become pool champions for the first time and secured their maiden quarterfinal appearance.
At Morin Dawa Stadium in Moki, the Bangladeshi players dominated Hong Kong China from the start, keeping their opponents’ defence under constant pressure with wave after wave of attacks.
The breakthrough came in the ninth minute when captain Sharika Rimon put Bangladesh ahead with a brilliant penalty-corner goal.
Airin Akter Ria doubled the lead in the 19th minute with an excellent field goal, while Kona Akter added the third in the 26th minute as Bangladesh ended the first half with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Tigresses maintained their dominance after the break.
Mosammat Lima scored Bangladesh’s fourth goal in the 31st minute, before Airin Ria netted her second and the team’s fifth just two minutes later.
Lima completed the rout in the 48th minute with her second goal of the match, sealing a comprehensive 6-0 victory.
Prominent figures from the country’s sports community, including officials of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation, extended their congratulations to the team on the historic achievement.
