The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Women's Handball team, whose departure was delayed due to visa problems, left Kolkata for Lucknow Thursday afternoon by train to take part in the five-nation 3rd South Asian Women's Handball Championship.

The five-team South Asian eves handball Championship involving holders India, runners-up Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan will be held on May 23-25 in the Indian city of Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh.

Bangladesh eves team, which was due to leave here Tuesday morning, deferred their journey by a day for not getting visa on schedule. The team members finally left the capital for Kolkata Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the tournament committee has shifted the meet's opening ceremony in the evening from Friday afternoon and also deferred Bangladesh's first match against Nepal on Saturday instead of Friday acceding to an appeal from Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, which finished runners-up in the 2nd version of the meet in Dhaka in 2000, earlier scheduled to play their first match against Nepal on Friday, the opening day of the three-day meet.

Bangladesh eves handball team, which managed a foreign tour in 12 years after participating in the inaugural South Asian Handball meet, also held in India, keep their eyes on retaining the runners-up position.

The 23-member Bangladesh eves team comprises 14 players, five officials, one congress delegate, two referees and one observer.

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).

Delegate - M Nurul Islam, Referees - Mokbul Hossain and Khalequzzaman Sikder, and Observer - M Ayub Ali.