Bangladesh, India share handball titles

Bangladesh and India shared the two titles of Bangabandhu IHF Challenge Trophy Women's (Youth and Junior), which concluded at the Shaheed M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Bangladesh youth team (under-17s) emerged champions in final beating their Indian counterparts by 46-43 goals in a nerve-wracking final

However, the Bangladesh junior team (under-19s) could not perform like the youth team as they lost to their superior Indian side by 48-17 goals in the day's final.

Bangladesh youth team will now play in the second round of this tournament in South-Central Asia Zone-2. Bangladesh never defeated India before at any national or age level meet.

Thanks to skipper Mosammat Marfi, who led from the front, snatching the much-expected trophy for the nation from the India with an impressive performance, scoring 15 goals in the final.

Apart from the Marfi's 15 goals, Runa Layla, Taniya, Dipa Rani, Fatema Prema and Sania Akter scored 14, 10, 5, 1 and 1 goals respectively for Bangladesh. Renuka scored highest 16 goals for India.

Bangladesh team's coach Dalia Akter termed the result as a surprise.

"Before the start of the tournament, I told all that my team will show surprise which they eventually did in the final. I am very happy with the performance of the girls. I never beat India in my playing career, but for the first time as a coach I was able to write that achievement. It's difficult to beat India in any game, especially in handball it is more difficult. My girls have down that difficult task," said the proud coach.