Ball rolls for handball league
The countdown for the much-awaited Asia Men’s Handball club league championship has begun with the draw ceremony. The tournament will begin on June 21 at the Gachibowli stadium here.
Asia Handball Federation (AHF) treasurer Badar Al Teyab and AHF EC Member Ahmed Al Shaabi reviewed the facilities at Gachibowli Stadium and also the hotel reserved for the event and expressed their satisfaction before holding the much-awaited draw for the tournament in which nine teams will vie for honours.
These teams are divided into two groups. Group ‘A’ comprises T-Sports Club (India), Al-Noor (Saudi Arabia), Al-Arabi (Qatar)
and Al-Qadsiya (Kuwait) while Group ‘B’ has AlKuwait (Kuwait), Al-Safa (Saudi Arabia), MesKerman (Iran), Al-Najma (Bahrain) and Al-Wakra (Qatar).
Toppers from the two groups will qualify for the knockouts.
After the draw ceremony, Handball Federation of India (HFI) president Arisanapally Jaganmohan Rao addressed the occasion. “Club leagues like these are what made cricket and football develop so much. We are holding the Asia Handball
League in Hyderabad so that we can magnify the craze for this incredible sport in our country,” he said.
All teams will reach Hyderabad a week before the championship begins, said the HFI president. The practice games will be played at Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy Stadium situated in Yousufguda. “With cooperation from State and Central Sports Ministries, SAI, SATS... we will strive to make this event a big success,” Jaganmohan Rao said.
Indian Olympic Association treasurer Anandeeshwar Pandey, SATS chairman A. Venkateshwar Reddy, National Handball coach Ravi, Gachibowli Stadium Administrator Nandakishor Gokul and others attended the event.