Rajshahi district will take on Natore in the opening match of the Agrani Bank 24th National Youth Hockey Tournament 2013 which gets underway in Rangpur on November 9.
Rajshahi are considered as the top favourites in the absence of defending champions BKSP who are now in India to play in the Nehru Cup. BKSP were the champions of this tournament nine times out of the last ten meets.
A total of nine teams are playing in this edition split into three groups.
Rajshahi division and Rangpur district will also face Joypurhat and Naogan respectively on the opening day.
Matches of the Rangpur venue will end on November 11 from where three group champions will qualify for the final round.
Another qualifying round will be held in Dhaka from November 14-16 with 12 teams divided into four groups of three.
The seven qualifiers will play in the final round.
In this connection a press conference was held at the Bangladesh Hockey Federation on Thursday. Sponsor Agrani Bank Limited will provide Tk 36 lakh to hold the competition for three years.
The bank has already paid Tk 11 lakh for this year’s tournament. It will give Tk 12 lakh in the second year and Tk 13 lakh in the third year.
-With New Age input
