Bangladesh's Hockey Junior World Cup dream ends after heavy defeat to Japan
Bangladesh's Under 20 hockey team suffered a 6-2 defeat to Japan in the sixth place play off at the AHF Junior Asia Cup in Moqi, China, on Friday, a result that ended their bid to reach the FIH Hockey Junior Men's World Cup for a second straight time.
Having reached the 2025 edition after finishing fifth in the previous Junior Asia Cup, Bangladesh knew a win over Japan was essential to keep their qualification hopes alive, with only the top six sides at the tournament earning tickets to the next World Cup.
Japan struck first against the run of play, with Bangladesh enjoying early possession before an unmarked Seiya Yamada found the net from open play inside the opening two minutes to give the eventual winners the lead.
Bangladesh responded positively and created a genuine opportunity to level, but squandered an open net chance, while Japan themselves wasted an early penalty stroke through Yunosuke Sone that could have doubled their advantage sooner.
Sone made amends in the 29th minute, converting a second penalty stroke opportunity to put Japan two goals clear, before Shota Hanayama added a third with a field goal right on the stroke of half time to leave Bangladesh facing a steep second half task.
Japan continued to press home their advantage after the break, with Rintaro Sakai converting a penalty corner in the 36th minute to make it 4-0, before striking again just five minutes later to extend the lead further.
Bangladesh finally found a route back into the contest in that same minute, with Mehedi converting a penalty stroke of their own to get on the scoresheet, though any momentum was short lived as Kiyowa Toa restored Japan's five goal cushion soon after with their sixth of the match in the 45th minute.
Munna Islam added a second Bangladesh goal in the closing quarter, converting a penalty corner in the 50th minute to bring the final margin down to 6-2, though the result was already well beyond doubt by that stage.
Bangladesh actually won more penalty corners than their opponents across the match, 12 to Japan's 10, but were unable to convert that advantage into meaningful pressure on the scoreboard.
The defeat confirms Bangladesh will miss out on the World Cup this time around, having achieved the milestone for the first time at the previous edition in Tamil Nadu.
Their tournament now moves to a seventh place play off against Chinese Taipei, with the side aiming to close out their campaign with a victory regardless of the wider disappointment.