Japan shatter Bangladesh Hockey team’s Junior WC dream

Bangladesh’s hopes of qualifying for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup (WC) for the second successive time were dashed as Japan handed the men in red and green a heavy 6-2 defeat in the place-deciding match of the AHF Hockey Junior Asia Cup in China on Friday.

The defeat means Bangladesh will now face Chinese Taipei in the seventh-place play-off, with only the top six teams from the tournament securing tickets to the next Junior World Cup.

Having qualified for the 2025 edition of the Junior World Cup after finishing fifth in the AHF Men’s Junior Asia Cup, Bangladesh had no alternative but to beat Japan on Friday to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

However, despite making a promising start, Bangladesh were badly let down by their finishing as Japan gradually took control of the contest.

Bangladesh enjoyed the early possession but conceded against the run of play in the second minute when an unmarked Seia Yamada found the net from open play.

The men in red and green responded positively and created an opportunity to level the score, but missed an open-net chance. Japan were also wasteful, with Yunosuke Sone squandering a penalty stroke.

Sone, however, made amends in the 29th minute, converting another penalty stroke to double Japan’s advantage. Shota Hanayama then made it 3-0 with a field goal on the stroke of half-time.

Japan continued to dominate after the change of ends, extending their lead to 4-0 in the 36th minute as Rintaro Sakai converted a penalty stroke.
Sakai struck again in the 41st minute to put Japan firmly in command.

Bangladesh finally found a way back when Mohammad Mehedi converted a penalty stroke in the 41st minute, but their hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as Japan restored their five-goal cushion with their sixth in the 45th minute.

Bangladesh created a number of chances in the final two quarters but could only reduce the deficit once more, with Munna Islam converting a penalty corner in the 50th minute.