Bangladesh made a stirring start to their Asian Games hockey qualifying campaign, holding their nerve in a pulsating seven-goal encounter to defeat Chinese Taipei 4-3 in Bangkok on Thursday.
The match began at a frenetic pace, with Chinese Taipei drawing first blood as early as the fourth minute. Chinese Taipei striker Li Chi Shuan capitalised on an attacking move to put Bangladesh on the back foot. Yet, like a side refusing to be pinned down, the men in red and green regrouped with admirable composure.
Bangladesh turned the tide emphatically, striking four consecutive goals, all from penalty corners, in a display of clinical efficiency.
Ashraful Islam led the charge with a brace in the 15th and 22nd minutes, setting the tone for a dominant spell. Amirul Islam extended the lead in the 34th minute, before Din Islam Emon added a fourth in the 59th minute, seemingly putting the contest beyond doubt.
However, the closing stages carried a sting in the tail. Chinese Taipei mounted a late resurgence, netting twice in the final two minutes to ignite hopes of a dramatic comeback. For a fleeting moment, Bangladesh's grip on victory appeared to waver, but they held firm to cross the finish line.
With this hard-fought win, Bangladesh take an early stride forward in Pool B, where Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan are also in contention. The top four teams from the qualifiers will secure passage to the Asian Games in Japan this September.
Originally slated for Muscat, the tournament was relocated to Bangkok due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
