Now, youth handball team aim to do well
LUCKNOW : Even after a disappointing show by the men’s team at the recently-concluded Asian Games in Jakarta, Indian men’s youth handball team will have a chance to showcase their potential when they begin their campaign at the 8th Asian championship, beginning Friday at Amman (Jordan).
The championship also acts as the qualification tournament for the 8th IHF Men’s Youth (U-19) World Handball Championship2019 scheduled to be held at FYR Macedonia.
“We are hopeful of a good show from the boys as they have done their home work well,” Handball Federation of India’s secretary Anandeshwar Pandey said soon after giving a warm send-off to Amit Kumarled Indian squad on Thursday.
“There has been a tremendous change in handball in the country. We are looking for a better show at the international level,” said Pandey, adding, “We couldn’t do well in Asian Games but we have improved our technique and there is chance to rectify things when our team go to the next Asian Games in 2022.”
In their maiden appearance in the Men’s Youth Under-18 Asian Handball Championship in 2005, India had a seventh place finish and thereafter it ended at 11th place in 2008.
“After a gap of 10 years, we have qualified for the Jordan event and I am sure the boys will do justice to their selection,” said Pandey.
The competition at the Asian Championship won’t be easy for India as teams like Jordan, Bahrain, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Uzbekistan, China, Iran, Chinese Taipei, UAE, Palestine and Syria will be there to challenge them.
Like their senior side, the youth team had almost a monthlong training stint at teraflex court at the Faizabad Sports Stadium. The court, which was gifted to the Handball Federation of India by the Asian Handball Federation last year, happens to be the second in India, and now HFI wants it to be installed at the Sports Authority of India’s regional centre here.
“We will soon request the SAI authorities to lay the teraflex court on their premises so that Indian team’s camp would become a regular feature here,” said Pandey.
INDIAN TEAM
Dinesh, Aman Malik, Amarmani Tripathi, Lokesh Ahlawat, Jasmeet Singh, Shashi Shanker Mishra, Viplab Biswal, Mohit, Vakil, Amit, Sumit, Subham, Nadeem, Mithul, Manish Kumar Tripathi and Sushant Sindhu. Chief coach: Shrawan Kumar
Arora; Asst coach: Arun Kumar; Manager: Vinay Singh.