Nepal U-23 suffered a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Thailand U-23 team during a friendly football match in Bangkok on Friday.

Sirimongkhon, Supachai Chaided, Worawut Namvech and Supachowk scored for the hosts. The Nepali team is in Thailand for a 10-day tour camp as part of their preparations for the 18th Asian Games slated to officially open on August 18 in Indonesia. Nepal also lost their first friendly against the top-tier Thai League 1 side Tero Police FC 1-0 on Friday despite the local team fielding their second string squad for the game. The Asiad football tournament kicked off on Friday, ahead of the scheduled official opening ceremony.

In Asiad, Nepal are pitted against Japan, Pakistan and Vietnam in Group ‘D’. Nepal kick start their campaign with a clash against mighty Japan on August 14. The take on Vietnam two days later before wrapping up their league fixtures with a game against the South Asian neighbour Pakistan on August 19. Nepal will play all three matches at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Cikarang. Top two teams from each of the six groups along with four best third-placed nations will make to the Round of 16.

Nepal’s Japanese coach Gyotoku Koji  has called up senior national team member and goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong, star midfielder Rohit Chand and Bishal Rai to compete in the Asiad. The tournament rules allow each team to field a maximum of three over-aged players in the tournament. Chemjong and Chand, however, had yet to link up with the team for the first match as they missed the flight to Thailand. Chemjong missed out on joining the team after arriving home late following his stint at top-tier Maldivians outfit TC Sports but got in time to play on Friday. Chand also failed to link up with same reason as he was playing for Indonesian top-tier team Persija Jakarta.