The Bangladesh Hockey Federation opened the national camp on 5 February with physical assessments rather than immediate stick and ball drills, prioritising baseline endurance over technical work. The camp was briefly paused when players were released on Tuesday for the National Parliamentary Election; they returned on Saturday after the election concluded and resumed preparations.
With the squad scheduled to depart for Oman on 22 March to acclimatise before the Muscat qualifiers (25 March–5 April), the coaching staff face a compact window to convert fitness gains into match readiness. Tactical questions remain on the agenda at the Dhaka camp, while long-standing league issues, and the lack of regular competitive fixtures domestically, continue to limit match practice and competitive sharpness.
Rezual Karim Babu, one of the senior figures in the squad, welcomed the start but refused to sugar-coat the reality. “Preparation is going well, Alhamdulillah,” he said, before stressing that the opening phase focused almost entirely on physical conditioning rather than structure or shape.
Babu framed Oman as both venue and mental hurdle. Bangladesh lost to the hosts in previous Asian Games and Asian Cup qualifiers, and he admitted he treats this trip as a personal challenge. Faith fuels his optimism, but memory sharpens his caution.
Tactically, Bangladesh remain a work in progress. Babu revealed the coaching staff have not yet reshaped the formation in detail, with the emphasis staying on fitness. Still, he hinted at a familiar blueprint, noting the team briefly implemented elements from former coach Siegfried Aikman’s system during internal matches.
The sharpest criticism came when the talk returned to fitness benchmarks. Babu confirmed that 95 percent of players passed the Cooper Test but added, “I personally think the Cooper Test level set by the federation is not enough by international standards.” The Cooper 12-minute run test measures aerobic fitness by evaluating the maximum distance covered, with “excellent” performance generally defined as more than 2,800m for males (20–29) and more than 2,700m for females (20–29). Standards are age and gender-dependent and often used for military and law enforcement assessments, requiring more than 2,400m for a passing score. Against stronger teams, he argued, Bangladesh still lag behind in physical output.
He also exposed a deeper structural problem. Rising living costs make personal diet and fitness investment difficult for players who rely on hockey to survive. “Playing hockey alone doesn’t make that possible,” he said, pointing to the lack of systemic support.
The squad blends experience with youth, with senior players like Pushkar Khisa Mimo, Naim Uddin, Mainul Islam Kaushik and Mahbub Hossain returning alongside several Under-21 prospects. Babu backed the balance, saying modern hockey punishes even small physical weaknesses if seniors fail to meet minimum fitness levels.
Despite the challenges, expectation remains high. “Bangladesh are always favourites in this qualifying round,” Babu said, urging fans to support the team as they chase the title and qualification.
Away from the pitch, debate continues over the absence of a domestic league. BHF general secretary Lt Col Riazul Hasan (retd) shifted responsibility towards the clubs, but critics argue the federation must organise and lead. Babu took a pragmatic view, saying regular leagues would remove rushed preparation and lift standards across the board.
Head coach M Ashikuzzaman echoed the concern, admitting long gaps without competitive matches made fitness maintenance difficult. He believes consistent training will show improvement within one to two weeks, even if the international physical ceiling remains some distance away.
Bangladesh finished eighth at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou after qualifying as runners-up. History shows they can get there. Fitness will decide whether hope turns into progress this time.
