Published: 10:09 AM, 07 June 2026
Six Nations International Handball Tournament to be held in Dhaka
Bangladesh Handball Federation organised a press conference and jersey unveiling at the Bangladesh Olympic Association Auditorium on Sunday.-BHF
The five-day age-level men's IHF (International Handball Federation) Trophy will begin at the Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in Paltan in the capital from June 10.
Dhaka previously hosted the international handball tournament three times. However, the Bangladesh Handball Federation is organising this competition with the hope of surpassing all the previous ones.
The competition will be held with the participation of six nations - India, Nepal, Yemen, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The teams will be divided into two groups in the Under-20 category. India, Nepal and Yemen will play in Group 'A'. Maldives, Afghanistan and host Bangladesh will play in Group 'B'. The semi-finals will be held with the champions and runners-up teams of the two groups. The final will be held on June 14.
The matches in the Under-18 category will be held in a round-robin league system. The team with the highest points will be crowned the champion.
Regarding this, Bangladesh Handball Federation organised a press conference and jersey unveiling at the Bangladesh Olympic Association Auditorium on Sunday. Bangladesh Handball Federation Vice President Dr Abu Nasar Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad MajnuMollah, General Secretary Mohammad Salauddin Ahmed, Head of Marketing of sponsor Dhaka Ice Cream Industries Limited Abdullah Al Mamun, Manager of U-18 team Kamrul Islam, Manager of U-20 team Mohammad Selim Mia, Tournament Coordinator RashidaAfzalunNesa were present in the press conference.
To improve the quality of handball worldwide and provide opportunities for young players to play international matches at the grassroots level, the International Handball Federation has divided the entire Asian continent into several geographical zones or regions.
According to the rules of the International Handball Federation, Asian Zone-2 has been formed with South and Central Asia. This year's age-based IHF Trophy is one of the various tournaments under this zone. The team that wins this zone will later get the opportunity to play in the continental phase in the main phase of the entire Asian continent.
Earlier, the first international handball tournament was held in Dhaka in 2000. The Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship was held there. Then in 2010, the handball discipline was included in the South Asian Games. The last IHF Women's Challenge Trophy was held in May 2023. Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Maldives participated in that tournament in the U-17 and U-19 categories. Where Bangladesh became the champion in the women's U-17 category.
The Bangladesh team has been practicing intensively for two months ahead of this competition.
U-20 team captain RatulUddin wants to win every match in the group and reach the final, "Our practice has been good. To reach the final, we have to do well in our group. Our first goal is to become the group champion."
U-18 team captain AsadullahAdib is satisfied with the preparation, "We have been practicing for the last two months. We have played warm-up matches with the national team, Bangladesh Police, BGB, and Dhaka team in turn. We have tried to correct our mistakes in every match. Playing at home. I hope I can make the team the champion by giving my best."
