Bangladesh finished sixth in the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup following a 6-1 defeat against Japan – their biggest defeat of the campaign – in a place-deciding fixture in Bihar on Sunday. 

The defeat leaves Bangladesh with the daunting task of facing a best-of three-match series against three-time Asia Cup winners Pakistan, who had opted out of the competition, for the lone remaining spot in World Cup Qualifiers.

According to a source, that series might be held in Dhaka in October, although the official is yet to come.

Bangladesh had never faced Japan before in the Asia Cup but lost to them 5-0 in the 2021 Asian Champions Trophy and 7-2 in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Japan scored two goals each in the first, third and fourth quarters while Bangladesh pulled one back five minutes from time, with Amirul Islam scoring the consolation goal for Moshiur Rahman Biplob’s charges. Ryosuke Shinohara scored a hattrick for Japan, who finished fifth in the competition. source: thedailystar.net