Bangladesh Hockey Federation Secures Substantial Sponsorship for Asia Cup

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) has successfully negotiated a significant sponsorship agreement valued at 10 million BDT (1 crore) to facilitate the national teams’ participation in the upcoming Under-18 Asia Cup in Japan. This financial injection, provided by the Epyllion Group, serves as a critical resource for the federation, effectively resolving the immediate pecuniary concerns regarding the delegation’s travel and logistical arrangements for the prestigious continental tournament.

Financial Logistics and Tournament Schedule

The total projected expenditure for the Japanese tour is estimated at 25 million BDT. The sponsorship from Epyllion Group covers approximately 40 to 45 per cent of this total budget, providing a substantial foundation for the mission. During the formal contract-signing ceremony held at the federation’s offices, the General Secretary of the BHF, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Riazul Hasan, expressed significant relief regarding the acquisition of these funds.

He noted that Japan is a notably expensive destination for international sporting delegations, and this contribution ensures that the procurement of travel tickets and essential provisions is now secure. To address the remaining budgetary deficit, the federation has officially initiated communications with various relevant government departments to secure the balance of the necessary funding.

The Under-18 Asia Cup is scheduled to commence on 29 May. To ensure adequate acclimatisation and final preparations on Japanese soil, both the boys’ and girls’ national squads are slated to depart from Dhaka on 26 May.

Coaching Appointments and Strategic Continuity

In a move to maintain competitive consistency, the Bangladesh Hockey Federation has opted to retain the coaching staff responsible for the teams’ previous successes. The federation has officially reappointed the following individuals to lead the technical panels:

• Maududur Rahman Shuvo: Head Coach for the Boys’ Under-18 Team.

• Zahid Hossain Raju: Head Coach for the Girls’ Under-18 Team.

The decision to rely on the incumbent coaching staff stems from their performance in the preceding year. Lieutenant Colonel Hasan emphasised that these coaches possess an intimate understanding of the current player roster, as well as a comprehensive grasp of the tactical strengths and weaknesses of their international opponents. This continuity is expected to provide a strategic advantage as the teams transition from domestic training to high-pressure continental competition.

Intensive Training and Group Allocations

Preparatory camps have already been inaugurated at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP), the nation’s premier sports institute. The boys’ camp commenced on 1 May, while the girls’ intensive training programme is scheduled to begin on 5 May. These sessions are designed to enhance physical conditioning and refine tactical execution before the squads face a challenging field of Asian competitors.

The competitive landscape for the tournament is structured as follows:

Boys’ Division (Pool B): The Bangladesh boys’ team has been placed in a formidable group. They will compete against:

• Pakistan

• Malaysia

• China

Girls’ Division: The girls’ team enters the tournament with high expectations following a remarkable debut in the previous edition, where they secured a bronze medal. Their campaign in Japan will involve fixtures against:

• Japan (Hosts)

• China

• Chinese Taipei

The federation remains optimistic that the combination of secured financial backing, coaching stability, and rigorous training at BKSP will enable both teams to replicate or exceed their past achievements on the international stage. As the departure date of 26 May approaches, the focus remains entirely on the final technical adjustments required to compete at the highest level of Asian youth hockey.