Congratulations
We congratulate Bangladesh for becoming runners-up in the U-18 Asia Cup Hockey that ended in Dhaka on Friday. Though they lost to the eventual champions India in the final, they had the credit of beating the same team at the group stage sounding a note of strong warning to the world’s power houses like Australia, Germany and Holland.
The result is respectable because highest four times World Champions Pakistan took part also, but made exit from the tournament having lost to India 1-3 in the second semifinals. In the recent years it has been seen that India are almost unbeatable against Pakistan, which is the outcome of the Indian Hockey Federation’s long planning.
But in case of Bangladesh, these are the players, and not the hockey federation, that can deserve the credit of advancement despite irregular Dhaka Hockey League and tournaments. We think that the sports ministry should give special attention to hockey so that Bangladesh improve its standard to the world level. It is possible.
Finally, we congratulate India also for becoming champions even after their opening loss to the hosts.
P. Rozario
Pabna
