Bangladesh’s U18 women’s hockey team claimed a historic bronze medal on their debut at the Women’s Asia Cup, thrashing Kazakhstan 6-2 in the third-place playoff.
From the first whistle, Bangladesh asserted dominance. Irene starred with a brilliant first-half hat-trick, while team captain Sharika, along with Kona and Riasha, added three more goals.
Though the tournament began with a tough loss to Japan, wins against Uzbekistan and Hong Kong rejuvenated the team.
A semifinal loss to China and a draw against Kazakhstan dashed their final hopes, but they finished strong, outclassing familiar opponents to secure bronze.
It’s a landmark achievement for Bangladesh women's hockey on the continental stage.