The representative of Asian Hockey Federation on Friday expressed her satisfaction over Bangladesh’s security plan during the forthcoming Asia Cup in Dhaka but insisted that a lot of works was needed to be done to ensure other facilities. Bangladesh will host the tournament from October 11 to 22 featuring eight teams – hosts Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia and Oman.
Japan, who will play in Pool B alongside hosts Bangladesh and regional powerhouses India and Pakistan, on Thursday have sought details of security plan before they take the Dhaka-bound flight.
‘We had been in close communication and coordination with the Bangladesh Hockey Federation to ensure that the security arrangements are at the level that it should be for this event,’ AHF representative Elisabeth Fuerst told reporters in Dhaka.
‘I’m very satisfied with the preparation and security plan that are in place. We think that the experiences are there. We knew that very recently Bangladesh hosted Australia cricket team here and that held without any problem. So I’m sure that they would will similar arrangement for the tournament.’
Fuerst is hopeful that Japan will arrive in a schedule time despite asking for security plan.
‘The reason is that a very unfortunate incident that happened here in July,’ she said. ‘This is a very big topic and very big concern for Japan especially,’ she said.
‘But as per I know, they are satisfied with the response they received and we have not heard from them about any issues,’ added Fuerst, an Austrian national.
Fuerst, the event and sport director of AHF, visited the tournament venue Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium and found some of the renovation works were still going on with only four days left for the tournament.
‘I think in the next four days we must make a very big effort to make sure that everything is ready for the first day’s matches,’ she adding.
Fuerst noted an architectural fault in dressing room that got the lesser height than expected.
‘I personally didn’t face any problem at the dressing room but there are some players, who are taller than me. So we need to make sure that they don’t get any butt on their heads,’ she said.
Fuerst, however, found some notable progress than her last visit as the installation of floodlight was at least completed.
‘Obviously the lighting is now there and it looks very good. I think it’s definitely international standard. But still there have lots of work to do and there is very little time left,’ she said.
Bangladesh is expected to hand over the venue to AHF on October 9.
-With New Age input
