DHAKA, May 10: The qualifying round of 15th Asian Games hockey tournament will start on Thursday with hosts Bangladesh to play Singapore in opening match in absence of Indonesia, at Moulana Bhasani National Stadium.

Earlier, Bangladesh was scheduled to play opening match against Indonesia after Sri Lanka-Singapore day's first match.

Four top teams, out of seven, will qualify for 15th Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar this November.

Six ranked Asian teams —Pakistan, India, South Korea, Malaysia, China and Japan —have been given automatic place for the event. Host Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Singapore will compete in pool A while Hong Kong, Oman, Chinese Taipei and Iran in pool B.—PPI