After failing to secure a ticket for the Youth Olympic Games, the Bangladesh under-17 hockey team had to be content with a third-place finish in the Asian Youth Olympics Qualifiers with a 5-4 win over South Korea in Bangkok yesterday.
Last edition's runners-up Bangladesh, who came into the place-deciding match after losing 2-9 against India in the semifinals, got off to a fine start and took a 3-0 lead in the first 10-minute session, with Abed Uddin, Sarwar Sawon and Mehdi Hasan scoring one goal apiece.
In the second session, Bangladesh strengthened their grip on the match by extending the margin to 4-0 with captain Shohanur Rahman Sabuj netting the fourth goal before Korea pulled one back in the penultimate minute of the second quarter.
Bangladesh however, had to face some challenges from the Koreans in the third and final session as Cheon Min and Choi Inhyeak struck one goal each in the 23rd and 24th minutes to make it 4-3.
Bangladesh came back strongly to make it 5-3 in the 27th minute before South Korea responded in the same minute, but Bangladesh held on to the lead to snatch victory.
Meanwhile, India beat Malaysia 2-1 in shootouts in the final after regulation time had yielded a ended in a 4-4 draw.
Both India and Malaysia qualified for the Youth Olympic Games to be held in October in Buenos Aires.
