By Admin 
Sporting a hairstyle that flares like a lion’s mane, 21-year-old Amirul Islam cuts an unmistakable figure on the turf. However, at the 2025 FIH junior men’s hockey World Cup here, it is not just his striking look that has turned heads — it is his impact on the game.
The leading drag-flicker of Bangladesh’s junior team, Amirul has emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest revelations.
Against powerhouse opponents Australia and South Korea, the junior World Cup debutant refused to fade quietly — thanks to Amirul, who produced back-to-back hat-tricks, propelling himself into the list of the competition’s top scorers.
Head coach Siegfried Aikman can hardly hide his admiration. “He trains relentlessly,” Aikman said. “In every session, he attempts numerous variations (around 50 to 100 each) in the morning and evening. He generates heavy topspin and finishes with tremendous wrist power. It’s all about rhythm. The drag-flick is a swing — a technical shot. It’s like putting in golf.”
Amirul honed his technique at the country’s premier sports institute, Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP). “As a BKSP student, I first played in the Independence Cup in 2019,” he recalled. “That was my first real chance to drag-flick. I tried hard but couldn’t score. But I just kept practising.”
Now, the once-struggling teenager is one of Bangladesh’s most promising young talents — and an admirer of Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh, one of the world’s finest drag-flickers.
Drawn in the tough Pool-F, Bangladesh has so far lost to Australia (3-5) and drawn with South Korea (3-3) and its hopes of entering the knock-outs are as good as over.
“We are unlucky to be grouped with France and Australia,” Aikman said.
Yet when Bangladesh lines up against heavyweight France on December 2 in its last group match, one thing is certain. Amirul will step up again, armed with his fearless approach, refined technique and a drag-flick capable of rattling even the strongest defence.