The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Cute, a cosmetics brand of Mousumi Industries Ltd., has become sponsors of the national women's handball team, which leaves here for India Tuesday morning by road to take part in the 3rd South Asian Handball Championship.

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, the 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.

Chairman of Mousumi Industries Ltd. and senior vice president of Bangladesh Handball Federation Kazi Mahtabuddin Ahmed handed over the sporting gears to national skipper Dalia Akhter at a simple ceremony at the Handball Federation office Monday morning.

Federation general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, assistant general secretaries Hasan Ullah Khan Rana and Mohammad Nurul Islam, team manager Selim Miah Babu and coach Mohammad Nasir Ullah Lablu were, among others, present.

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

The 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), Nasir Ullah Lablu (coach).

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