Bangladesh U-20 team booked their place in the semi-finals of the Men's Age Group International Handball Federation (IHF) Trophy in emphatic fashion after defeating the Maldives 39-17 to emerge as Group B champions at the Shaheed Captain M. Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in Paltan on Friday.
The celebrations began moments after the final whistle as music echoed around the venue and jubilant Bangladesh players embraced one another. At the heart of the festivities was Shumol Tanchangya, who was lifted onto the shoulders of his teammates following another commanding display by the hosts.
Bangladesh produced a dominant performance throughout their second group-stage encounter, looking sharper in attack and more organised defensively while rarely allowing the Maldives to settle into the contest. The convincing victory secured Bangladesh's second consecutive win in the tournament and confirmed both a semi-final berth and top spot in Group B.
Shumol Tanchangya starred for the hosts, scoring seven goals to share the top-scoring honours with teammate Sohag Ali. His outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
"Handball is a team game. We won because everyone contributed," said Shumol after the match.
"This is my first individual award in an international competition, so naturally I feel very happy. From the opening match, I believed I could make a positive impact and show what I am capable of. Thankfully, things worked out well today."
The Quantum Cosmo School student quickly shifted the focus from individual recognition to the team's broader objective of lifting the title.
"We always try to stay mentally prepared, and that helps us perform under pressure," he said. "I don't think there are any easy teams here. Every side in this competition has quality. Right now, our focus is on the semi-final. We want to keep improving and hopefully bring the title home for Bangladesh."
Bangladesh will now face Yemen, runners-up from Group A, in Saturday's first semi-final, while Group A champions India will take on the Maldives in the other last-four clash.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh's Under-18 side produced a spirited display but fell to a 39-35 defeat against India in another closely contested match.
Despite the loss, the hosts challenged their regional rivals throughout the encounter and delivered one of their most competitive performances against India in recent international handball competitions.
Jebe Dai Bom emerged as Bangladesh's standout performer, carrying much of the team's attacking burden with an exceptional 18-goal haul, accounting for more than half of Bangladesh's total score. His remarkable display kept the hosts in contention for much of the match.
However, India's Lalit, who scored 14 goals, was named Player of the Match after guiding his side to victory.
Bangladesh remained within striking distance for long periods but struggled to find enough support for Dai Bom's scoring exploits. The hosts trailed by at least four goals for much of the contest and were unable to close the gap in the closing stages despite their determination.
After the final whistle, coaches and team officials were seen consoling a tearful Dai Bom, whose disappointment reflected Bangladesh's desire to secure a memorable victory over their traditional rivals.
Bangladesh Under-18 captain Asadullah Adib praised his teammates' resilience despite the setback.
"We never gave up in this match. We kept trying throughout, but unfortunately we could not win," Adib said. "The way we fought today will inspire us for our next match."
Bangladesh's Under-18 team will return to action against Nepal on Saturday at 1pm, while India will face Afghanistan in the day's other fixture.
