26-year wait nears end for women’s handball

Bangladesh will host a senior women’s international handball tournament for the first time in 26 years when the Begum Khaleda Zia IHF Nations Trophy (Asia Zone – 2) begins at Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali Handball Stadium on Sunday.

Since hosting the South Asian Women’s Handball Championship in 2000, the country has staged several age-group international tournaments but no senior women’s competition.

“We are proud to host an international tournament that will give our players valuable international experience,” said Bangladesh Handball Federation (BHF) president Golam Habib at a press conference at the BOA auditorium yesterday.

The four-team tournament, sanctioned by the International Handball Federation (IHF), will follow a round-robin format, with the top two teams contesting the final and the other two playing for third place.

BHF general secretary Salahuddin Ahmed said Afghanistan withdrew on Wednesday after the IHF declined to accept five Iranian players in their squad.

The hosts have trained for three months under Spanish coach Ana Alonso Fragua, who focused on individual skills during the first two weeks before shifting to team play.

“We have trained under a foreign coach for the first time,” Bangladesh captain Ismat Ara Nishi said, adding that she considers India as favourites. “We will give our level best to reach the final, though Nepal and Maldives are also good opponents in the group.”

Bangladesh will face Nepal on October 18, India on October 19 and Maldives on October 20.