Bangladesh held by Uzbekistan, face playoff for Asian Games spot

After failing to secure an Asia Cup berth for the first time last year -- only to eventually participate following Pakistan’s withdrawal -- Bangladesh hockey hit a new low on Monday, missing out on the semifinals of the Asian Games Qualifiers after a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan in Bangkok.

The result, Bangladesh’s first-ever draw against the Central Asian side, coupled with a first defeat to Sri Lanka in two decades, has left them battling for a place in the top six through a playoff on Thursday -- a stark contrast to a tournament they would once have been expected to dominate.

In the match against Uzbekistan, Bangladesh fell behind early after conceding a penalty corner in the sixth minute, which Mironshokh Ortikboev converted. Ashikuzzaman’s men responded 30 minutes later, with Amirul Islam equalising from a penalty stroke.

Both teams created further opportunities but failed to make them count. Bangladesh, in particular, endured a frustrating outing from penalty corners, failing to convert any of their six attempts.

The men in red and green finished third in the four-team group with four points from three matches. Uzbekistan also collected four points but advanced to the semifinals as group runners-up due to a superior goal difference. Sri Lanka, despite losing their final match to Chinese Taipei on Monday, topped the group, having earlier beaten Bangladesh 3-2.

Bangladesh had begun their campaign with a narrow 4-3 win over Chinese Taipei.

They will now face the fourth-placed team from Group A in Thursday’s playoff, with their opponents to be determined among Hong Kong, Thailand and Kazakhstan. The top six teams from the 11-team tournament -- considered a second-tier competition in Asia -- will qualify for the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Japan later this year.

Regardless of whether Bangladesh ultimately secure a place in the Asian Games, their performances over the past year warrant serious scrutiny -- particularly in areas such as team selection, the effectiveness of the coaching staff, and the overall competitiveness of the side in the absence of domestic competitions.