Sports Desk:

Bangladesh Men’s team will take on Malaysia while the Women’s team will face Kazakhstan in their respective third-place deciding matches of the U-18 Men’s and Women’s Asia Cup Hockey 2025 at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre in China on Sunday.

Bangladesh Men’s Hockey team, which was eliminated from the Men’s U-18 Asia Cup Hockey after conceding 4-6 goal defeat against stronger Japan in the first semi-final on Friday, will play another losing semifinalist Malaysia in the 3rd place deciding match on Sunday (July 13) at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre in China.

Pakistan, which qualified for the final eliminating Malaysia by 4-3 goal in penalty shootout as the 2nd semifinal match between two teams was locked in 3-3 goals in the schedule time on Friday, will play Japan in the final on Sunday (July 11).

In the Friday’s first semis, Bangladesh dominated match on three occasion against their mighty opponents Japan till the 50th minute, but, Japan took the match in their favor scoring three goals in a row in the remaining ten minutes of the 4th and last quarter to reach the final.

Din Islam put Bangladesh ahead in the very 2nd minute from a penalty corner (1-0), Ismail Hosen doubled the Bangladesh margin scoring a field goal in the 12th (2-0), captain Mohammad Abdullah scored the 3rd by a field goal in the 30th minute while Amit Hasan scored the 4th goal for Bangladesh in the 47th minute from a penalty corner.

Earlier, Bangladesh Men’s Hockey team finished Pool A runners up to qualify for the semi-finals securing nine points from four matches with three wins and one defeat after beating hosts China by 5-2 goals, Hong Kong, China by 3-0 goals, crushing Sri Lanka by 13-0 goals and conceded 3-6 goals defeat against favorite Pakistan.

Japan Men’s team clinched the Pool A title to qualify for the semi-final with all-win run securing full 12 points from straight four matches after beating Chinese Taipei 5-2 goals, Malaysia by 3-1 goals, crushed Kazakhstan by 12-0 goals and outplayed Uzbekistan by 6-2 goals

Bangladesh Women’s team, which reached the super four stage of the Women’s U-18 Asia Cup Hockey in their first appearance as the Pool A runners up, played 2-2 draw with Pool B runners up Kazakhstan in their first super four match last Friday  (July 11)  at the same venue.

After the match, both the Bangladesh and Kazakhstan have secured one point each from super four stage, will play each other again on Sunday at 6 pm to decide the 3rd place.

Japan will play hosts China in the women’s final also on Sunday (July 13) at 3 pm at the same venue..

On way to the super four stage, Bangladesh women’s team beat Uzbekistan and Hong Kong by 3-0 goals each after suffering a huge 0-11 goals defeat against Japan.