Qualifying Round of Asian Games Hockey begins in city today
Friday, 7 May 2010
The Robi Asian Games Qualifying Hockey begins today (Friday) on the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium in the city with three matches scheduled for the opening day, reports UNB.
Oman will play Honghong in the opening match at 10:00 am while Sri Lanka meet Chinese Taipei at 12:30 pm and Singapore will play against Thailand at 4:00 pm in the other two opening day fixtures.
The tournament was formally inaugurated Thursday afternoon at a simple ceremony although the competition will begin Friday morning.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the seven-nation 10-day Asian Games qualifying Hockey meet through a 40-minute ceremony Thursday afternoon.
President of Bangladesh Hockey Federation and Air Force Chief Air Marshall SM Ziaur Rahman, Federation general secretary Khondaker Jamiluddin and Chief Marketing Officer of the meet's title sponsor Robi Bidyut Kumar Basu were also present on the occasion.
All the participating nations except Chinese Taipei, now already in the capital, were present during the march past of the participating teams. Hong Kong was the first team to reach the capital Tuesday while Chinese Taipei as the last team was to arrive in the capital later Thursday night.
Banglar Mukh Shilpi Goshti presented cultural show during the ceremony.
Seven countries - Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand and hosts Bangladesh - will compete in the qualifying meet on league basis. Later, top two teams of the meet will qualify for the eight-team final round of the Asian Games Hockey.
Hosts Bangladesh, which aspires for the tournament title, will start their campaign Sunday (May 9) against Thailand at 2:00 pm. Moshiur Rahman Biplob has been named captain of Bangladesh team with Mamunur Rahman Chayan as his deputy.
Mobile phone operator company Robi (Aktel) is the title sponsor of the meet.
Oman will play Honghong in the opening match at 10:00 am while Sri Lanka meet Chinese Taipei at 12:30 pm and Singapore will play against Thailand at 4:00 pm in the other two opening day fixtures.
The tournament was formally inaugurated Thursday afternoon at a simple ceremony although the competition will begin Friday morning.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the seven-nation 10-day Asian Games qualifying Hockey meet through a 40-minute ceremony Thursday afternoon.
President of Bangladesh Hockey Federation and Air Force Chief Air Marshall SM Ziaur Rahman, Federation general secretary Khondaker Jamiluddin and Chief Marketing Officer of the meet's title sponsor Robi Bidyut Kumar Basu were also present on the occasion.
All the participating nations except Chinese Taipei, now already in the capital, were present during the march past of the participating teams. Hong Kong was the first team to reach the capital Tuesday while Chinese Taipei as the last team was to arrive in the capital later Thursday night.
Banglar Mukh Shilpi Goshti presented cultural show during the ceremony.
Seven countries - Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand and hosts Bangladesh - will compete in the qualifying meet on league basis. Later, top two teams of the meet will qualify for the eight-team final round of the Asian Games Hockey.
Hosts Bangladesh, which aspires for the tournament title, will start their campaign Sunday (May 9) against Thailand at 2:00 pm. Moshiur Rahman Biplob has been named captain of Bangladesh team with Mamunur Rahman Chayan as his deputy.
Mobile phone operator company Robi (Aktel) is the title sponsor of the meet.