The third edition of prestigious four-nation Bangabandhu IHF Challenge Trophy Women's (youth and junior) got underway today (Saturday) through grand ceremony at Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in the city.
President of Bangladesh Handball Federation (BHF) AKM Nurul Fazal Bulbul formally inaugurated the five-day meet as the chief guest releasing balloon.
The local group performed dance with music at the venue immediately after the meet declared open.
The tournament started with the match between favorite India and Nepal.
The players of the host Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Maldives teams (youth and junior), who participating in the meet, earlier took part in the march past holding the flags of their respective countries.
Chairman of tournament organising committee and former Senior Secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan, its Co-Chairman and general secretary of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation and also Additional Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Md. Habibur Rahman, former Senior Secretary Dr Jafar Uddin, International Handball Federation PRC Lecturer Terie Anthoncen, Indian Handball Association's secretary general Anadeshwar Pandey,
Maldives Handball Federation's president Ahmed Mujthaba, Nepal Handball Association's president Tej Bahadur Gurung, BHF's general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, tournament media committee's member secretary Md. Jahangir Hossain, players of the all four participating countries and officials were present in the opening ceremony.
In the day's first match of the meet, India youth women's handball team thrashed Nepal youth handball team by 47-1 goals while the India junior women's handball team thrashed Nepal junior team by 46-8 goals after dominating the first half by 22-3 goals in the day's second match of the fixture.
In third match of the day, Bangladesh youth women's handball team crushed Maldives youth women's handball team by 48-10 goals after leading the first half by 27-5 goals while Bangladesh junior women's handball team beat Maldives junior women's handball team by 38-21 goals after dominating the first half by 19-9 goals.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha