Bangladesh’s top-six hopes crushed by China

Bangladesh’s hopes of securing a top-six finish in the men’s hockey competition at the Asian Games ended with a heavy 7-1 defeat to China in the classification match in Japan on Thursday.

At the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Bangladesh were outclassed from the start, conceding twice inside the opening five minutes and never recovering from the early damage.

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Chen Benhai scored a hattrick, while Zhang Jialing struck twice and Zhao Yulai and Gao Jiesheng added one each for China. Bangladesh’s lone goal came from forward Rakibul Hasan, who scored from open play on the stroke of half-time.

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Despite German coach Peter Gerhard’s intensive preparations, which included five warm-up matches, including two against China in China, Bangladesh struggled to cope with the hosts’ pressure throughout all four quarters.

Bangladesh, who finished fourth in Pool A with six points from five games, will now face Thailand in the seventh-eighth place decider on Saturday.

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The defeat dents the target set by Gerhard and the Bangladesh Hockey Federation. Bangladesh have competed in Asian Games hockey since 1978, with four seventh-place finishes their best result. They finished eighth among 10 teams in Hangzhou in 2023.

A top-six finish among 12 teams in Japan would have been a new high. A win against Thailand would at least secure seventh place and match Bangladesh’s best-ever Asian Games finish.