Published: 10:14 AM, 13 June 2026
Maldives, Yemen earn victory in IHF Trophy
Maldives and Yemen recorded victories in the last two matches of the day in the men's age group International Handball Federation (IHF) Trophy held on Thursday evening at theShaheed Captain M. Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in the city's Paltan.
In the Under-20 category, Maldives secured a hard-fought 33-31 goal victory over Afghanistan in a closely contested encounter. Afghanistan remained competitive throughout the match, but their lack of experience proved decisive in the closing stages.
Maldives' Zayed Mohamed Thaufeeq delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a match-high 11 goals to guide his team to the victory.
Earlier, Yemen produced a dominant display to defeat Nepal by 37-15 goals. Saeed Ba Raboud led Yemen's charge with nine goals, playing a key role in his side's comprehensive triumph.
Earlier, just twenty-four hours after their Under-20 counterparts secured a commanding win, the Under-18 boys followed suit on Thursday afternoon, extending the host nation's bright start in the ongoing International Handball Federation (IHF) Trophy.
The final scoreline at the Shaheed Captain M. Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in Paltan reads 32-23 in favor of Bangladesh. That nine-goal margin, however, feels slightly deceptive.
For large stretches of the afternoon, the Maldives looked entirely capable of pulling off an upset. They played with an aggressive physicality that clearly rattled the hosts early on, frequently cutting the deficit to a single possession. This tension peaked just before the break; in the 28th minute, Bangladesh was clinging to a fragile 15-14 lead. It was a messy, high-stakes sequence where defensive lapses nearly cost the home side. Only in the final quarter, as the Maldivian stamina began to flag under the intense Paltan heat, did Bangladesh finally assert tactical control and pull away.
The turnaround owed much to individual poise. JebedaiBawm, a standout product of the Quantum Cosmo School program, anchored the backline effectively enough to walk away with the Player of the Match honors.
Meanwhile, the offensive burden was largely carried by KhaichlongMarma, whose sharp shooting yielded a game-high 8 goals.
