The Captain M Mansur Ali Stadium in Paltan is set to host the international women’s handball tournament, the IHF Nations Trophy, for the second time. Scheduled to run from October 18 to October 22, the tournament will feature the host nation, Bangladesh, competing alongside India, Nepal, and the Maldives.
The five-day sporting spectacle, which has been named in honor of the former three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was officially announced today during a press conference at the Dutch Bangla Bank Auditorium of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA).
The competition will follow a round-robin league format, ensuring all participating nations face each other once. Two league matches will be held daily on October 18, 19, and 20. The bronze medal match is scheduled for October 21, culminating in the highly anticipated gold medal final on October 22.
The Bangladesh national team enters the tournament backed by a rigorous three-month preparation camp, narrowing down a preliminary squad of 90 players to a final 17. Team Captain Ismatara Nishi expressed strong optimism about the host nation’s prospects: "This is our first time training under a foreign coach, and we are highly confident about playing in the final. While teams like the Maldives and Nepal have improved significantly, we will give our absolute best to reach the top and bring glory to our country."
Spanish Head Coach of the Bangladesh team, Ana Alonso Fragua, highlighted the broader vision for the squad: "We are working not only to win this tournament but to build a strong foundation for the team’s future. While the lack of recent international matches makes it challenging to gauge the current standards of our opponents, we guarantee 100% effort. We will fight for every ball and battle hard to win."
Bangladesh Handball Federation General Secretary Md. Salahuddin Ahmed noted that while Yemen and Afghanistan were initially slated to participate, they were unable to attend due to geopolitical and regulatory constraints. He emphasized that the federation's primary long-term focus remains the upcoming SA Games, using this tournament as a crucial stepping stone.
Vice President Golam Habib expressed profound pride in hosting the event, noting that the exposure to foreign teams will significantly aid the development of local players. The tournament is being organized through a collaborative effort between the Federation, the tournament committee, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The official inauguration ceremony will take place on October 18 at 11:00 AM. The Honorable State Minister for Youth and Sports, Md. Aminul Haque, has kindly consented to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Both the opening and closing days will feature spectacular cultural programs.
The press conference was attended by Federation Vice President Golam Habib, General Secretary Md. Salahuddin Ahmed, Tournament Chief Coordinator S M Khalequzzaman, Head Coach Ana Alonso Fragua, and Captain Ismatara Nishi.
