Bangladesh Crush Nepal in Women’s Handball Tournament Opener
Bangladesh made a flying start to the four-nation Begum Khaleda Zia IHF Nations Trophy, defeating Nepal 33-20 in the opening match of the Asia Zone-2 tournament at the Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in Paltan on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts played attacking handball from the outset. Although Nepal offered some resistance in the first half, they struggled to cope with Bangladesh’s fast-paced attacks. Bangladesh went into the break with a 13-9 lead.
The team coached by Spanish coach Ana Alonso stepped up their performance in the second half, extending the margin with more effective play to secure a convincing victory.
Alpana Akter played a key role in Bangladesh’s win, scoring seven goals to earn the Player of the Match award. Mishti Khatun and Shyamoli Ming scored six goals each, while captain Ismetara Nishi netted five. Saima Jannat Sima scored four goals, and Masuda Akter added two.
The four-team tournament is being played in a single round-robin format. Bangladesh’s emphatic opening victory is expected to boost the hosts’ confidence and strengthen their position in the race for a place in the final.
The win was particularly satisfying for the hosts after their defeat to Nepal at the 2019 South Asian Games. Bangladesh will face India in their second match today, aiming to maintain their winning momentum.
Earlier, Youth and Sports State Minister Md Aminul Haque inaugurated the tournament as the chief guest.
In his speech, the state minister said, “It is a matter of great pride for Bangladesh to host such an international sporting event. It will also take regional goodwill and the bonds of friendship and brotherhood among the participating countries to a new level.”
Emphasising the continued progress and overall empowerment of women in sports, Aminul said, “The Ministry of Youth and Sports is working tirelessly to energise young people and increase women’s participation in sports. The dedication and skills of our female athletes will deeply inspire future generations.”
He also urged all participating teams to deliver their best performances while upholding the true spirit of sportsmanship and the core values of fair competition.
