Bangladesh hockey players celebrating after winning bronze. l Banglar Chokh

Bangladesh regains bronze in SAG hockey
TBT report

Bangla-desh staged a brilliant comeback to score a come-from behind 2-1 win over Sri Lanka to reclaim the bronze medal in the hockey event of the 11th South Asian Games (SAG) on Sunday.
Bangladesh successfully negated its first half deficit and emerged winner when Ashiquzzaman and Mamu-nur Rahman Chayan scored goals in the second half of the third-place play-off match at Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium in Dhaka .
It was a sweet revenge for the hosts who lost their bronze to the same opponents in 2006 Colombo South Asian Games.
Bangladesh coach Gerhard Peter Rach said it was the outcome their hard work. "We worked hard to regain bronze. It was our commitment. Boys put a lot of efforts and got the reward. It would have been happier for me if we would have won the silver," the German said.
Earlier, Bangladesh had an insipid start in the bronze-decider and allowed the Sri Lankans to have an edge in the first half. Though both sides carried out a series of attacks, Sri Lankan players kept the Bangladesh side on alert and finished the first half with a 1-0 advantage.
Mulaffer scored for Sri Lanka with a serene shot following a combined move on 18 minute and though the islanders played well to preserve their lead before the break, they crumbled against the hosts' spirited display after the change of ends.
Ashiquzzaman leveled the scores deflecting a powerful straight shot from Chayan into the goal (1-1) on 50 minutes. Buoyed by the late success, Bangla-desh players swooped on the Sri Lankan side with redoubled vigour and frustrated the islanders with attacks after