The Bangladesh men’s hockey team qualified for the forthcoming Asian Games 2026 after a 3-2 win on penalties against Hong Kong, following a 4-4 draw in regulation time in the Men’s Asian Games Qualifiers at the Royal Thai Air Force Hockey Field in Thailand on Thursday.
Bangladesh keeper Biplob Kujur made three crucial saves in the shootout before captain Fazle Rabbi converted the fifth and decisive shot to clinch the place-deciding match and secure a spot in the Asian Games as one of the top-six place finishers.
Forward Rakibul Hasan missed the first shot before forward Obidul Hossain Joy and midfielder Roman Sarkar converted their spots for a 3-1 lead, while midfielder Abed Uddin was denied by Hong Kong keeper Yan Chun Michael Chung before Rabbi’s successful shot.
Earlier, Rakibul gave Bangladesh the lead, scoring from an open field in the fourth minute, and defender Amirul Islam doubled the margin by converting a penalty stroke a minute later.
Pak Ko Parco Au (sixth) and Ishtiaq Ahmed (31st) equalised the margin for Hong Kong by scoring once each from penalty corners.
Bangladesh went 3-2 up with defender Ashraful Islam scoring from a penalty corner in the 41st minute, while Kuldeep Singh (46th) annulled the lead, scoring from open field.
Ashraful (48th) scored from a penalty corner before Felix Chi Him Iu got the equaliser by converting the penalty stroke for Hong Kong.
Bangladesh, who have never missed the Asian Games since 2002, will play the fifth-sixth place-deciding match against Chinese Taipei at the same venue today.
The 20th Asian Games is scheduled to be held from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
