V-Day Hockey
Fight mars final
Muktobihanga lifted the title of the Dhaka Bank Victory Day Hockey Tournament when they defeated Sonali Bank 4-3 in a tiebreaker of the chaotic final at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
After the barren first half, Asaduzzaman Chandan converted a penalty corner five minutes into the second half to put Muktobihanga ahead before Sheikh Mohammad Nannu leveled the margin for Sonali Bank through a field goal in the 56th minute.
But before the equalizer, the match was suspended for a long period following an unexpected incident as Sonali Bank striker Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, who looked tempermental from the beginning and frequently protested decisions of umpires, hit the head of opponents’ defender Farque after Jimmy was cautioned by a yellow card following his argument with Farque over a decision given by the umpire in favour of Muktobihanga.
Faruque was later taken to the hospital to stitch his wound as Jimmy was sent-off and the match rolled into the penalty shootout.
“I was first struck [by Faruque], but the umpire cautioned me instead of him,” Jimmy said. “I didn’t want to hit him and the stick fell on his head after slipping from my hand.”
