The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) has plans to provide "best efforts" to prepare the U-21 team ahead of next year's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in December, India.

The team returned home yesterday after finishing fifth in the AHF Hockey Junior Asia Cup in Oman, securing their first-ever spot in the Junior World Cup with three wins, two draws, and one loss in six matches.

The BHF organised a reception for the history makers at Falcon Hall in the city, where BHF president and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan welcomed each player and official with flower garlands before awarding the 21-member youth team contingent -- comprising 18 players, coach, manager and physio -- a cash prize of Tk 5 lakh.

"As we have already secured a ticket for the Junior World Cup, we will do everything necessary for the youth hockey team. We will aim to have a six-month-long camp instead of three months and, if needed, bring in a foreign coach alongside our local coach," Mahmood said during his speech.

He also shared plans to keep the players engaged through domestic competitions.

"We are optimistic about resuming domestic competitions. The Victory Day Hockey Tournament will take place in late December, followed by the women's hockey league in January and the domestic league for men in March," the BHF president informed.

Congratulating the players, officials, and sponsors for the achievement -- as Bangladesh had never appeared in a hockey World Cup at any level -- Mahmood added, "This is a significant accomplishment in the month of December. By qualifying for the Junior World Cup, you have created an opportunity to aim for the Senior World Cup in the future. We will provide our best efforts, irrespective of opinions and challenges, as you face bigger hurdles in the coming days."

The BHF president acknowledged the challenges of running a three-month training camp for the Junior Asia Cup, especially as most federation officials were absent after August 5. He expressed his commitment to continuing the camp with better facilities, improved diets, and accommodation from the Oman tour.

Before Mahmood's speech, players and the coach emphasised the need for a comprehensive training camp to prepare for the main event.

Forward Rakibul Hasan Rocky, Bangladesh's top scorer with seven goals, said, "The federation should start the camp as soon as possible. We'll face top opponents like the Netherlands, Germany, England, and Argentina, so we need to elevate our performance through rigorous training."

However, head coach Moududur Rahman Shuvo believes keeping players engaged through regular competitions is as important as long-term training.

"Running a year-long training camp may not be feasible, but we can keep players engaged through domestic competitions such as the Premier Hockey League and franchise-based hockey, which meet international standards due to the participation of world-class players," Shuvo said.

As the youth squad aims for success on the world stage, the continued efforts and resources from the federation will be crucial in facing the challenges ahead and realising their potential at the Junior World Cup.