High action in the beach

[1]

For the eighth time, the citizenry in Kozhikode is experiencing a different sport, that too through a National Championship. The National Beach Handball is being held in the town and it is getting a good response.

“Scores of people come to watch the sport. The tournament started on April 16 and will end on 19,” says Ramdas, the district handball association secretary and organising committee member.

In the men’s category, 12 teams are participating. Jammu Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Orissa and Kerala have sent their teams in. Beach handball game laws are a bit different from the indoor version of handball. Instead of seven players, only four are needed for beach handball and the court is also small as compared to handball.

“We had all-India tournaments on Beach Handball before. Four years ago, the Kerala Handball Association hosted sixth National Beach Handball Championship at Thiruvananthapuram. It is nice that Kozhikode is hosting the event,” said State handball association secretary Jerry Fernandez.

“We wanted to give a boost to handball and thought about starting a national tournament. The event is funded by sponsorship. Several people are interested in the game as it’s an action-packed event. We want to popularise the game. We are also trying to promote handball, in which Kerala were once the national champions,” said Jerry.

The Kerala team for the event was selected through open selections.

“The three-day event has given new hopes for Kerala. The National Games will be held in the State and we are ready to host the event in Kozhikode as we have received a good response,” said Ramdas. About 100 players from near and far are in the city to take part in the event.

The tournament is held at the temporary floodlit court set up in the beach.