Tata Steel Training Centre cadets at a practice session at JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Saturday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Oct. 8: Jharkhand Handball Association (JHA) has started the spadework to host the prestigious 26th Federation Cup Handball Championship (2011-12) even though Bihar has thrown its hat in the ring.

The Handball Federation of India (HFI) is expected to finalise the venue within a week for the big-ticket event, to be held between December 16 and 21.

JHA officials are hoping they get selected. “A new five-member ad hoc committee led by Anandeshwar Pandey is operational in Bihar since the state association there had been dormant for over a decade. It would be a risky affair if the HFI allots the event to them as lot of modalities are involved in efficiently conducting a national event,” said an official.

Speaking to The Telegraph, JHA secretary Khurshid Khan said association members were prepared to host the event.

“We have started talks with Tata Steel for sponsorships and have plans to host the matches in Jameshedpur or Bokaro,” he said, adding that they were against organising the championship in Ranchi, as they don’t expect any help from the state government.

According to Khan, who is also a member of the ad hoc panel in Bihar, HFI has asked them to make arrangements to host the Federation Cup. “The panel from Bihar has requested HFI to give it the opportunity to host the championship. But the national body has asked both JHA and the committee in Bihar to be ready to conduct the games,” he added.

Twenty-one teams — 13 in men’s category and eight in women’s — will take part in the championship. While Central Industrial Security Force, CRPF, Railways, National Handball Academy (Bhilai), Jharkhand and eight top states (who qualified for the quarter-finals in the last national championship) comprise the men’s outfit, top eight states make the women’s team.

Jharkhand, which is not among the top eight states, will participate on virtue of being the hosts. Jharkhand’s participation will, of course, depend on the HFI’s decision on venue.

Federation Cup was organised at the JRD Tata Sports Complex at Jamshedpur in 2007-08.