BKSP, representing Zone 5, clinched the title of the BRAC Bank Aparajeyo Alo Women’s Hockey Tournament after thrashing Zone 2 (Dhaka and Mymensingh) by 8–0 in the final at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium in the capital on Thursday.
Kona Akter led the charge with a four-goal haul, while rising star Arpita Pal struck twice. Nini Sen Rakhain and Tonni Khatun added one goal each as BKSP dominated proceedings from start to finish.
Arpita emerged as the top scorer of the final round, netting an impressive 22 goals in five matches.
“I never expected that I would score so many goals,” said Arpita after the final.
“We wanted to represent what BKSP stands for in terms of facilities and development. We didn’t focus on scoring goals, but on giving our best on the pitch,” she added.
“It would be better for us if we get more opportunities to play abroad,” Arpita noted.
BKSP’s Airin Akter Riya was adjudged the best player of the tournament.
“It feels really good,” said Riya in her immediate reaction after lifting the trophy. She scored a total of 13 goals in the final round.
“We all knew that Arpita would be the top scorer because she is very good at drag flicks,” Riya said.
“We didn’t play much at home; we played more tournaments abroad. That is why we are more experienced, and that is why the gap between us and our opponents is so big.”
Riya also shared her journey, saying, “I used to play football at first. Then I switched to hockey. I was admitted to BKSP in 2021, and now I have fallen in love with this sport.”
Bangladesh Hockey Federation General Secretary Riazul Hasan expressed gratitude to BRAC Bank for sponsoring the tournament, while BRAC Bank Managing Director Tareq Refat Ullah Khan pledged continued support for women’s hockey in the future.
The tournament began on November 2, featuring 18 district teams divided into four zones—Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Jashore, and Cumilla—in the first phase. BKSP joined the four zonal champions in the final round, which started in late December.
