he biggest handball event in the local circuit, the Exim Bank 24th National Handball Championship, comprising 29 teams, begins at the Shaheed (Capt.) M. Monsur Ali handball stadium tomorrow.
Defending champions Border Guard Bangladesh and last year’s runners-up Bangladesh Police are expected to face stern competition from another powerhouse, Bangladesh Ansar, who will take part in the tournament after a three-year hiatus.
The Bangladesh Handball Federation (BHF) has prepared two extra courts at the adjacent Paltan ground to accommodate the matches. All the teams will play one match at the natural surface.
BHF general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor hoped the tournament will be the perfect warm-up for the Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games, slated for April next year.
Tournament committee chairman Hasanullah Khan Rana, secretary Khalequzzaman Swapan, handball federation joint secretary Nurul Islam and official Selim Mia Babu among others presented the event to the media yesterday.
Sponsors Exim Bank has provided a purse of Tk1.2m for the tournament.
