Dhaka:The second edition of the IHF Women's Nations Trophy is set to commence this Sunday at the Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in the capital. The tournament will feature teams from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the Maldives.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the five-day event has been named in honor of former three-time prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque is anticipated to inaugurate the competition as the chief guest at 11 am. Cultural programs are planned for both the opening and closing ceremonies.
The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing against the others once. Matches are scheduled daily on October 18, 19, and 20, with the bronze-medal match set for October 21 and the final on October 22.
Bangladesh's team captain, Ismetara Nishi, expressed optimism about reaching the final, noting the progress made by both Nepal and the Maldives. She highlighted the challenge posed by eight Nepalese players who will be part of army teams.
Spanish head coach Ana Alonso Fragua of the Bangladesh women's team expressed gratitude to the Bangladesh Handball Federation for the opportunity to coach the players. She emphasized the importance of both winning the tournament and building a strong foundation for the future of Bangladesh women's handball.
Yemen was initially expected to participate but withdrew due to ongoing conflict in the country. Federation general secretary Md Salauddin Ahmed emphasized the importance of preparing for the upcoming South Asian Games, aiming to improve upon previous performances against Nepal.
Vice-president Golam Habib described hosting the tournament as both a source of pride and a significant responsibility, expressing hope that competing against international teams would enhance the skills of Bangladesh's women players.