Bangladesh Hockey Squads Prepare for China Tour Ahead of Major Tournaments
A total of 54 Bangladeshi hockey players are heading to China for Asian Games preparations and the Junior Asia Cup. The national team will play several matches, while the under-20 squads depart shortly.
A large contingent of fifty-four hockey players from Bangladesh is scheduled to travel to China for crucial international assignments and intensive training camps. This significant deployment includes eighteen players selected for the senior national team, alongside thirty-six players making up the under-20 boys and girls teams. The announcement highlights a major operational effort by the Bangladesh Hockey Federation to prepare its athletes for upcoming regional and continental challenges.
The senior national team is heading to the Chinese city of Tianjin to undertake comprehensive preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. According to the scheduled itinerary, the senior squad is expected to depart at noon on September 2, 2026. In the lead-up to their departure, the senior national team engaged in a competitive training fixture against the junior side on Friday at the Maulana Bhashani Stadium, where the senior squad narrowly secured a 4-3 victory over the junior players.
During Friday's intense preparatory match at the Maulana Bhashani Stadium, senior national team player Ashraful Islam delivered a standout performance by scoring a hat-trick. The match served as a critical test for both squads before their respective international travels. While the senior players continue their final preparations at home, the two junior teams are moving ahead with an earlier travel schedule, departing for China on Saturday at 9:45 PM.
For the senior national team, the upcoming tour to Tianjin will feature a total of five preparation matches. Notably, three of these fixtures will carry official international status as they are played directly against the China national team. These high-level encounters are expected to provide the Bangladeshi players with invaluable competitive experience against strong regional opponents ahead of the Asian Games.
Logistical arrangements for the senior team are currently being finalized, though minor delays regarding documentation have occurred. The visas for the senior national team members have not yet been issued, but officials have offered reassurance regarding the timeline. Ariful Haque Prince confirmed the administrative status by stating that the necessary visas will be processed and completed by Monday.
