The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Women's Handball team will leave here for India Tuesday morning by road to participate in the 3rd South Asian Handball Championship keeping their eyes on runners-up position.

Five South Asian countries -- holders India, runners-up Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan -- will compete in the third version of the meet to be held May 23-25 in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh.

Bangladesh, which finished runners-up in the 2nd version of the meet in Dhaka in 2000, will play their first match against Nepal on May 23.

Meanwhile, the India-bound Bangladesh eves team Sunday made a courtesy call on Bangladesh Handball Federation president and Industries Secretary Dr M Nurul Amin at the conference room of the Industries Ministry at Shilpa Bhaban in Motijheel.

Federation president Dr Nurul Amin wished the eves team success in the South Asian meet and asked them to work hard for a good result.

Handball Federation generaly Asaduzzaman Kohinoor and Team Leader Principal Hamida Ali also spoke on the occasion.

Asaduzzaman Kohinoor informed that the eves' team had a 25-day preparation for the meet at the Mirpur Krira Palli in Dhaka.

During the meeting, Bangladesh captain Dalia Akhter sought blessings from the countrymen for a good result in the South Asian meet.

"We'll try our best with heart and soul to do a better result… at least to retain the runners-up position," the Bangladesh skipper said.

Team Leader Hamida Ali said she hoped that the team would do well in the meet although "our preparations were not enough."

The 25-member Bangladesh team comprises 14 players, five officials, two congress delegates, two referees and two observers.

Bangladesh team: Players - Dalia Akhter (captain), Rozina Khatun (Vice-captain), Sheela Roy, Ismat Ara Nishi, Sharmin Farzana Rumi, Shahnaz Parvin Maleka, Rita Khatun, Happy Begum, Akhirun Nessa, Maina Begum, Nazira Akhter, Kamrun Nahar Sheela, Lipi Begum and Sheuli Parvin.

Officials - Principal Hamida Ali (team leader), M Haiul Quaium (deputy team leader), Salim Miah Babu (manager), Aysha Zaman (assistant manager), Nasirullah Lablu (coach).

Delegates - Asaduzzaman Kohinoor and M Nurul Islam, Referees - Mokbul Hossain, Khalequzzaman Sikder, Observers - M Ayub Ali and Dr Anupom Hossain.