Getting set for beach handball

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Prior to National Games, Kozhikode will have the opportunity to host the first National Beach Handball Championship.

The championship will be held from April 16 and this will be the first time a national event on beach handball is organised in the country.

“We had all-India tournaments on beach handball, and conducted a tournament in hiruvananthapuram three years ago. This time, we are keen on conducting a national championship for the first time. Kozhikode will be hosting the event,” said state handball association secretary Jerry Fernandez.

The association has approached almost all state associations to send their teams. “We are in talks with other state associations. Though beach handball is a national event, the sports council has not given its recognition. We hope that, with the nationals, we will get due recognition,” he said.

“Last time, when we conducted the all-India tournament, the response was immense. Several people came for the championship. We expect such a response from Kozhikode too,” he said.

Beach handball game laws are a bit different from its indoor version.

Instead of seven players, only four players are needed for beach handball and the court is also small when compared to handball.

The state team will be selected in open selection trials. “An organising committee will be formed shortly and more details will be out then. Since we have no recognition from the sports council, we will have to fund it by ourselves. We have already approached several sponsors for funding,” he said.

“Actually, we are trying to give a boost to handball game in the state. Kerala were the national champions in handball consecutively for 10 years till 2005. After that, we were not able to clinch the number one position. Other states, such as Chhattisgarh, came in front of Kerala in both technicality and ability,” he said.

“The major problem is that several of the players started to play for University Championship and were not able to attend the handball camps. We have lost the ground in the top position but still our teams reach in the semifinals,” he said.

He added that more people could be attracted to the game through conducting the tournament. Besides, “This will be a good opportunity for the players to get ready for the national games.”