The Bangladesh Women's Hockey team is set to play their first match against a foreign opponent, the Sports Authority of India's (SAI)-National Women's Hockey Academy team, tomorrow (Tuesday) at Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium in the city, reports UNB.
The match will kick-off at 04:00 pm (BST).
Bangladesh Women's Hockey team will play six preparatory matches against the Indian side ahead of their maiden Women's Junior (U-21) AHF Cup Asia Cup Hockey Qualifiers scheduled to be held in Singapore from September 09-15 this year.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) hockey team, under the banner of National Women's Hockey Academy team will arrive in Dhaka today (Monday) to play six friendly matches against Bangladesh Women's Hockey team.
The 2nd match is scheduled for August 22 at 04:00 pm, 3rd match on August 23 at 07:00 pm, 4th match on August 25 at 04:00 pm, 5th match on August 26 at 07:00 pm and the 6th and last match on August 28 at 04:00 pm, all at the Maulana Bhasani National Stadium.
The part-time Indian new advisory coach of Bangladesh Women's Hockey Team Ajay Kumar Bansal is already in the capital to prepare Bangladesh girls for their maiden appearance in the Asia Cup Hockey Qualifiers.
"SAI-National Women's Academy Hockey team is a good team, they [Bangladesh] will play against a good opponent, definitely, they will learn many things - techniques, tactics, skills and other behaviours on the pitch," Bansal said.
"Bangladeshi girls don't know anything about the condition of international matches or tournaments.
I am scared when they will go to the Asia Cup, how they will feel. The environment will be different there.
So, I think when they will play against Indian team, they will come through into little bit realisation of the tournament or the matches," he further added.
While asking about his observation, the Indian coach replied, "The girls [Bangladesh] are very talented. But, they need some exposure. They have not gone through any tournament or anything.
They are just practicing only. I am very hopeful for this team. If they get proper training and exposure, they will be the best team in future."
In the Women's Junior (U-21) AHF Cup Asia Cup Hockey Qualifiers in Singapore from September 09-15, Bangladesh put in Pool B with Hong Kong China, Nepal and Sri Lanka while Pool A team comprises Chinese Taipei, Singapore and Uzbekistan.
The top two teams of the qualifying round will earn rights to play in the next year's final round of the Women's Junior Asia Cup, also a qualifying meet for the Women's Hockey Junior World Cup 2021.
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