DHAKA, Apr 12, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh national hockey team's head coach Mamun Ur Rashid said he is hopeful to defend the title of the upcoming AHF Cup hockey.

The men in red and green won the AHF Cup title in the last four editions in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2022 respectively and will start another campaign in the 10-team event scheduled from April 17 to 27 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Bangladesh hockey team will leave here for Indonesia on Monday night to participate in the tournament.

"As we are the champions of the last four editions of the AHF Cup so target has been automatically set and we want to become champion of the tournament this time as well," said Mamun while talking to BSS today.

The team's preparation is good and the boys got nearly one and half month to make them prepare for the tournament, he said.

Mamun said, "All the participating teams of the tournament are strong. As a host team Indonesia is good team. Thailand, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka are also strong sides. I we hope we'll be able to cross the group stage smoothly, but I think our main opponent will be Oman in the tournament."

Replying to a question Mamun categorically admitted that he feels a little bit pressure before the tournament because a team has to do a lot to retain the title. The main lacking of the team is the boys could not play any practice match before the tournament.
 
"We approached the federation regarding arranging practice matches for the team. However, the federation is facing financial constraints. So, despite their willingness, they were ultimately unable to organize any overseas practice matches," said the head coach responding to a quarry.

Mamun informed that the training camp for the tournament began on February 25 last and it would continue till April 14 morning, the day of the team's departure. All the eighteen players, who were selected for the final squad, were picked on the basis of their performances during the camp.

The AHF Cup tournament, which will serve as the qualification tournament for the Asia Cup, Bangladesh are pitted against hosts Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Kazakhstan in Pool B.

Fixtures:

April 18: Bangladesh vs Kazakhstan

April 20: Bangladesh vs Indonesia

April 22: Bangladesh vs Thailand

April 23: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka