DHAKA, – Mainul Islam Kowshik slammed double hat-trick as Bangladesh hockey team shrugged off their previous matches defeat as they bounced back to register an overwhelming 9-0 goals victory over Philippines in their Pool A third match of Indoor Asia Cup in Chonburi, Thailand on Wednesday.
It was the first victory for Bangladesh in the tournament following their 6-0 defeat to Malaysia in their group opening match and 8-0 lost to defending champions Iran in their second match.
Thanks to Mainul Islam Kowshik for his double hat-tricks that keep Bangladesh’s hope to play the fifth or seventh place matches of the tournament following the day’s emphatic victory.
The winners’ dominated the whole proceeding and took a 6-0 goal lead at the breather.
In the day’s match, Kowshik gave Bangladesh a deserving lead early in the 4th minute with a field goal while he doubled the lead in the next minute again with a field goal.
Ashraful Islam scored the third goal for Bangladesh converting a penalty corner in the 9th minute while Kowshik completed his first hat-trick scoring the fourth goal in the 11th minute.
Russell Mahmud Jimmy further widened Bangladesh’s margin scoring the fifth goal with a field goal for Bangladesh in the 17th minute while Kowshik scored his fourth and sixth goal for his side with a field goal in the 20th minute.
After the breather Kowshik opened the flood gate scoring fifth and seventh goal for Bangladesh with a field goal in the 30th minute while Jimmy scored his second and eighth goal for his team in the 33rd minute.
Kowshik completed his second hat-trick sealing the victory for Bangladesh scoring the ninth goal in the 36th minute of the match.
The boys in red and green will play their fourth and last group match against host Thailand scheduled to be held tomorrow (Thursday).
Eleven teams are taking part for the first in the tournament with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and the Philippines making their debuts.
Bangladesh have been grouped in Pool A along with defending champions Iran, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand while the Pool B consist with Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore and Uzbekistan.
Bangladesh squad : Asim Gope (GK), Abu Sayed Nippon (GK), Imran Hassan Pintu, Rashel Mahmud Jimy, Ashraful Islam, Khorshedur Rahman, Farhad Ahmed Shitul, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Sarwar Hossain, Mainul Islam Kowshik, Milon Hossain and Rumman Sarkar.
