Captains pledge to show good hockey

Asia Cup Hockey trophy unveiled

The slug-fest of the Hero Asia Cup Hockey 2017 for the number one Team in Asia will unfold at the newly-furnished Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium (MBNHS) in Dhaka tomorrow (on Wednesday).

The trophy of the prestigious eight-team event was unveiled at a local city hotel in the presence of the eight teams’ captains, officials of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and local organisers yesterday.

The gala ceremony was started with the welcome speech of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) general secretary and Bangladesh first hockey captain Abdus Sadeq, wherein he mentioned the upward trend of the Bangladesh hockey.

“Just after 48 hours, the countdown to the much-awaited Hero Asia Cup Hockey-Bangladesh 2017 will finally be staged. We’re delighted to be hosted once again the grand event after a 32-year-long hiatus,” said Abdus Sadeq.

“We will host three international tournaments within three-four months including Under-18 Asia Cup Hockey and World Hockey League Round-2. Hopefully we could be arranged more international tournaments in days to come with the growth of the country’s hockey,” Sadeq told media in his welcome speech.  

Therefore, Dato Tayyab Ikram, chief executive of the Asian Hockey Federation said that the tournament will open the door of new opportunities not only for Asian but also the world hockey.

“We’ve been waiting for a long time to see Dhaka step into the modern hockey arena, this edition of Hero Asia Cup 2017 is a special one with the AHF extending all the support behind it,” Tayyab Ikram said.

“I thank all the involved stakeholders and Bangladesh government for hosting the meet. Today we’ve a lot of challenges across the world. But sports is now more than all above. We can bright together all the nations under one platform through sports. I hope Hero Asia Cup 2017 will produce a brilliant level of hockey,” Ikram, who is a member of the IOC commission, told.    

All the participating teams in the meantime arrived here in Bangladesh to play the showcase event and did their intense training sessions to dovetail with the weather and condition.   

Captains of the participating teams expressed their high hopes to fare well in all the Asian competition.

Bangladesh captain Russel Mahmud Jimy, who is very much delighted having the opportunity to play Asia Cup hockey at home ground and new atmosphere, said that their main target is to play good hockey.

“Our main target is to play good hockey in front of home crowd. But if we can play with our potential and we have every ability to make any upset, whoever else the opponents not matter. We will play for our country,” Russell Mahmud said in his reaction.

However, India team captain Manpreet Singh, was the first one to disclose his anticipation with the tournament when one of the top favourites to win the title, said, “All of us always dream of playing in the Asia Cup. We all are excited and raring to showcase our good performance. We want to evolve through the tournament match by match and obviously to expect to be champions.”

India won the Asia Cup for twice and the last one was in 2007, this time the captain Manpreet, looked very confident to regain title, as he said, “The last time we won the tournament was in 2007 but this time we have the opportunity to play as the number one team in Asia. All the teams are here to win the title but we know all are ready throw up stiff challenge to us, but our aim is to take the tournament match-by-match and give our 100 per cent in order to win against every opponent. Winning this will be a stepping stone for us in achieving our main objective of being a top-3 ranked country in the world.”

India’s arch rival Pakistan team captain Mohammed Irfan said that they’ll show good skills and techniques to be reach our expected destination.

“Pakistan has a great passion for hockey. We’ll set our plan to play match by match and reach to our target,” said Irfan.

“We’ve made change in our game after the World Cup qualifying round and hopefully it’ll expose it in our game. Defeat to India recent past is disappointing for us so we’ll try to make a good impression, really we’re looking for performance,” Irfan responded.

Sun Jin Lee, the captain of the defending champions South Korea, who was very much straight forward in his reaction and said, “We are here to play to be the champions and to qualify in the World Cup.”

Malaysian captain Sukri Mutalib said that they’ve set their target to break into the top three position by displaying good game, while Japan are expecting to be top five.     

Captains pledge to show good hockey

Asia Cup Hockey trophy unveiled

The slug-fest of the Hero Asia Cup Hockey 2017 for the number one Team in Asia will unfold at the newly-furnished Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium (MBNHS) in Dhaka tomorrow (on Wednesday). The trophy of the prestigious eight-team event was unveiled at a local city hotel in the presence of the eight teams captains, officials of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and local organisers yesterday. The gala ceremony was started with the welcome speech of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) general secretary and Bangladesh first hockey captain Abdus Sadeq, wherein he mentioned the upward trend of the Bangladesh hockey. Just after 48 hours, the countdown to the much-awaited Hero Asia Cup Hockey-Bangladesh 2017 will finally be staged. Were delighted to be hosted once again the grand event after a 32-year-long hiatus, said Abdus Sadeq. We will host three international tournaments within three-four months including Under-18 Asia Cup Hockey and World Hockey League Round-2. Hopefully we could be arranged more international tournaments in days to come with the growth of the countrys hockey, Sadeq told media in his welcome speech. Therefore, Dato Tayyab Ikram, chief executive of the Asian Hockey Federation said that the tournament will open the door of new opportunities not only for Asian but also the world hockey. Weve been waiting for a long time to see Dhaka step into the modern hockey arena, this edition of Hero Asia Cup 2017 is a special one with the AHF extending all the support behind it, Tayyab Ikram said. I thank all the involved stakeholders and Bangladesh government for hosting the meet. Today weve a lot of challenges across the world. But sports is now more than all above. We can bright together all the nations under one platform through sports. I hope Hero Asia Cup 2017 will produce a brilliant level of hockey, Ikram, who is a member of the IOC commission, told. All the participating teams in the meantime arrived here in Bangladesh to play the showcase event and did their intense training sessions to dovetail with the weather and condition. Captains of the participating teams expressed their high hopes to fare well in all the Asian competition. Bangladesh captain Russel Mahmud Jimy, who is very much delighted having the opportunity to play Asia Cup hockey at home ground and new atmosphere, said that their main target is to play good hockey. Our main target is to play good hockey in front of home crowd. But if we can play with our potential and we have every ability to make any upset, whoever else the opponents not matter. We will play for our country, Russell Mahmud said in his reaction. However, India team captain Manpreet Singh, was the first one to disclose his anticipation with the tournament when one of the top favourites to win the title, said, All of us always dream of playing in the Asia Cup. We all are excited and raring to showcase our good performance. We want to evolve through the tournament match by match and obviously to expect to be champions. India won the Asia Cup for twice and the last one was in 2007, this time the captain Manpreet, looked very confident to regain title, as he said, The last time we won the tournament was in 2007 but this time we have the opportunity to play as the number one team in Asia. All the teams are here to win the title but we know all are ready throw up stiff challenge to us, but our aim is to take the tournament match-by-match and give our 100 per cent in order to win against every opponent. Winning this will be a stepping stone for us in achieving our main objective of being a top-3 ranked country in the world. Indias arch rival Pakistan team captain Mohammed Irfan said that theyll show good skills and techniques to be reach our expected destination. Pakistan has a great passion for hockey. Well set our plan to play match by match and reach to our target, said Irfan. Weve made change in our game after the World Cup qualifying round and hopefully itll expose it in our game. Defeat to India recent past is disappointing for us so well try to make a good impression, really were looking for performance, Irfan responded. Sun Jin Lee, the captain of the defending champions South Korea, who was very much straight forward in his reaction and said, We are here to play to be the champions and to qualify in the World Cup. Malaysian captain Sukri Mutalib said that theyve set their target to break into the top three position by displaying good game, while Japan are expecting to be top five.