BD emerge unbeaten champions in Qualifiers

Bangladesh clinched the title of eight-team Islami Bank Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers with all-win run shocking formidable Oman by 6-1 goals in the final at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium Sunday, reports UNB.
With the day's well merited victory, hosts Bangladesh not only reached the 12-team Asian Games Hockey finals as the top team of the qualifying round, but also took revenge of their 2-4 goals defeat against Oman in the Asia Cup Hockey held in Malaysia last year.
Six teams-South Korea, Pakistan, India, Japan, China and Malaysia-will directly play in the Asian Games Hockey finals to be held in the third biggest South Korean city of Incheon September-October this year alongside six top teams of the just concluded qualifying round.
On completion of the eight-team qualifiers, six-teams-Bangladesh, Oman, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Iran and Chinese Taipei-advanced to the 12-team Asia Games Hockey finals as the top six finishers while Qatar and Hong Kong were eliminated from the race as the 7th and 8th placed teams in qualifiers.
In the day's final, Bangladesh took the lead in the 13th minute through a penalty corner taken by captain cum penalty corner specialist Mamunur Rahmam Chayan (1-0).
Oman scored the equalizer in the 24th minute as their forward Rajab Basim Khatar hit the board with a fierce hit after beating the Bangladesh defenders (1-1).
Forward Hasan Jubair Niloy put Bangladesh ahead again in the 29th minute by sending the ball into the post, utilizing a square pass of Sheikh M. Nannu from the left flank (2-1).
Pushkor Khisha Mimo widened the Bangladesh margin in the 45th minute as he dashed down through the midfield to score the team's third goal (3-1).
Hasan Jubair Niloy made it 4-1 scoring his 2nd goal, the 4th for Bangladesh, after Pushkor Khisha Mimo set him free for the goal.
Pushkar Khisa Mimo and Sheikh M Nannu scored two more goals for Bangladesh in the last two minutes. Mimo scored his second goal in the 69th minute (5-1) while Sheikh Md. Nannu sealed the fate of the match scoring the 6th goal in the last minute (6-1).
Earlier, Sri Lanka finished 3rd in the eight-team qualifiers beating Singapore by 3-2 goals in a place deciding match at the same venue on Sunday afternoon.
In the 5th place deciding match in the morning, Iran defeated Chinese Taipei by 2-1 goals at the same venue.
Qatar was placed 7th beating beat Hong Kong by 4-2 goals in the 7th-8th place decider Sunday morning. Both the teams were eliminated from the race as the two bottom teams.