Gerhard assesses players for Asian Games

 
Bangladesh national hockey team head coach Peter Gerhard closely assessed his players during an internal practice match on Sunday as preparations gathered pace for the upcoming Asian Games.

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation divided the 38 players called up for the preliminary training camp into three separate teams for the match, giving the experienced German coach an opportunity to evaluate the squad in competitive conditions.

The session was designed to assess the players' tactical awareness, physical fitness and their ability to adapt to match situations as the coaching staff begins shaping the final squad for the continental event.

Speaking after the match, Gerhard underlined the importance of the exercise in the selection process.

"This practice match was extremely important to evaluate the players' current condition and their performances on the field," he said.

"Based on what we have seen today, we will be able to move forward with the next phase of our preparations."

The federation believes that a rigorous training programme and a systematic selection process will help build a strong and competitive Bangladesh side capable of performing at the Asian Games.

Bangladesh's preparations will continue on Monday when the national team takes on the country's Under-21 side in another practice match, scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm, as Gerhard continues to fine-tune his squad ahead of the tournament.