All the seven foreign teams are due to reach the capital today (Thursday) to participate in the eight-team qualifying round matches of the Asian Games Hockey to be held March 15-23 at the Maulana Bhasani National Stadium here.
The teams are Oman, Hong Kong, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Iran, and Qatar.
Oman will be the first foreign team to reach the capital Thursday morning, followed by Hong Kong at 07:55 pm, Singapore and Chinese Taipei at 10:05 pm, Sri Lanka and Qatar at 10:40 pm, and Iran at 11:50 pm.
Hosts Bangladesh have been placed in Pool B alongside Singapore, Hong Kong and Iran while Group A team comprises Oman, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei and Qatar.
In the opening match on Saturday (Mar 15), Oman will play Chinese Taipei at 2 pm while Sri Lanka will meet Qatar in the other opening day’s fixture at 4 pm.
Hosts Bangladesh will start their campaign against Hong Kong on Sunday (Mar 17) at 4 pm while Singapore will face Iran the same day at 2 pm.
Six top teams of the qualifying round will be entitled to play in the 12-team Asian Games Hockey to be held from September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, the 3rd biggest city of South Korea after Seoul and Busan.
Host South Korea, India, Pakistan, Japan, China and Malaysia will directly play in the Asian Games Hockey.
