1st Div. hockey league returns after 3yr hiatus

Dhaka, 8 Oct - First Division Hockey League will return on Oct 10 after a three-year hiatus, with eleven clubs set to compete at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.

Bachelors Sporting Club will face Farashganj Sporting Club in the opening match while Wari Club will meet Dhaka Young Star in the second game of the day.

Bangladesh Hockey Federation president Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan is expected to inaugurate the league as chief guest.

The league was last held three years ago, with the previous committee making several attempts to revive the competition, First Division Hockey League Committee secretary Mohammad Yousuf Ali told a press conference on Thursday.

"For various reasons, the league could not be held over the past three years. The previous committee made several attempts to organise the league," he said.

The participating clubs are Wari Club, Hockey Dhaka United, PWD SC, Combined SC, Mukto Bihango Tarun Sangha, Bachelors SC, Farashganj SC, Shishu Kishor Sangha, Dhaka Wanderers Club, Rayer Bazar SC and Dhaka Young Star Club.

The champions will be promoted to the Premier Division, while the bottom-placed team will be relegated to the Second Division, Yousuf said.

The league's best player and top scorer will also receive prizes.

First Division Hockey League Committee joint secretary Ashraful Alam Bablu and Umpires Board secretary Nazirul Islam Nazu were also present at the press conference.BSS