Jimmy receives special recognition but Bangladesh narrowly beaten by Japan at Asian Champions Trophy

Bangladesh lost 1-0 to Japan at the Asian Champions Trophy in Jalandhar, India, on Thursday, in a match that also marked a personal landmark for Rasel Mahmud Jimmy.

The former captain was honoured before the game for playing his 150th international match.

Organisers presented Jimmy with a commemorative gift before the start, recognising a figure taken from International Hockey Federation (FIH) records. It made him the first Bangladesh player to reach 150 appearances on the governing body’s official count.

The FIH did not log every fixture in earlier years, so its total differs from the national tally. The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) says the Japan game was Jimmy’s 208th international appearance, a number its media wing has confirmed.

On the pitch, Bangladesh showed clear improvement after a 13-0 defeat to India in their opener. Both sides stayed organised and the first three quarters passed without a goal, with Bangladesh holding firm against a more fancied opponent.

The breakthrough came in the final quarter. Raiki Fujishima converted a penalty corner in the 40th minute to give Japan the lead. Bangladesh pushed hard for an equaliser but could not find a way past a disciplined defence.

Jimmy, 39, has been a central figure in the national side for many years. His record on the field has been matched by a place in the headlines for disciplinary issues, though the milestone in Jalandhar put the focus back on longevity.

Bangladesh have three matches left in the competition. After five games each, the top four teams move into the semi-finals, while the bottom two meet in a fifth-place play-off. Bangladesh gained entry after Pakistan declined to travel to India.