DHAKA, July 04 (V7N): The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) officially launched its residential training camps on Saturday as both the men’s and women’s national teams ramp up preparations for the upcoming 20th Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, this September.
The men's national hockey training camp commenced at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium under the watchful eye of head coach Mosiur Rahman Biplob. The federation has initially selected a 32-player pool for the men's squad. Meanwhile, the women’s national team is scheduled to open its camp on Sunday at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) facility in Savar, guided by coach Zahid Hossain Raju, with an initial selection of 28 players. BHF General Secretary Lt. Col. Riazul Hasan (Retd.) confirmed that both rigorous training programs will run continuously until the continental tournament begins.
Targets and Historical Milestones
| National Squad | Qualification Route | Historic Context / Goals |
| Men's Team | Finished 5th at the Qualifiers in Bangkok (April 2026) | Historically place 7th–8th; aiming to break into higher rankings this year. |
| Women's Team | Defeated Hong Kong 2-1 in Jakarta Qualifiers (April 2026) | Making their first-ever appearance at the Asian Games. |
A Learning Experience: BHF General Secretary Riazul Hasan expressed strong optimism regarding the developmental trajectory of both squads. While acknowledging that the men's team will face incredibly steep competition from regional powerhouses like Japan, Malaysia, India, and Pakistan, he emphasized that the board expects an improved placement this cycle. For the women's team, Hasan noted that their historic debut will serve primarily as an invaluable high-level learning opportunity to pave the way for the future of women's hockey in Bangladesh.
