Nepali men´s team will lock horns with Afghanistan in the inaugural match of the men´s section, which will feature six national teams. According to men´s team coach Jeevan Basnet, the Nepali team is undergoing a closed camp training for the past two weeks.[break]
"The training has been satisfactory and the players have worked hard for the tournament. We will play for a win against Afghanistan in the first match," Basnet shared with Republica.
Meanwhile, Tej Bahadur Gurung, the president of Nepal Handball Association, informed that preparations for the biggest international handball tournament to be held in Nepal were over.
"Technical manpower and officials have already arrived in Nepal. The international event is being conducted as handball in Nepal is on the verge of extinction. I hope the event will popularize handball in Nepal," Gurung said at a press conference held in the capital on Monday.
Among four regions of the International Handball Federation (IHF), Nepal lies in South Central Asia. The event will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the Asian Championship. The winner and the runner-up will qualify for the Asian Championship that will feature a total of 12 teams.
The international event to begin in Kathmandu will feature six teams each in men´s and women´s sections, including host Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Yemen. The matches will be played at the Army Sports Complex in Lagankhel.
The expected cost of the IHF-recognized event is Rs 24 million.
Related story
Central Region sets semifinal clash with APF in men's cricket
