The stage is set for some exciting turf action on Tuesday as the curtain goes up on the 32nd Sub-junior Boys National Handball Championship being held in Jamshedpur for the first time.
As many as 29 states and a team put together by the Gujarat unit of Sports Authority of India (SAI) would be vying for top honours at the six-day event being organised by Jharkhand State Handball Association (JSHA) at JRD Tata Sports Complex.
Over 600 players and officials are taking part in the tournament. While players have been accommodated at the eastern wing of the JRD Tata Sports Complex, officials, including referees, have been put up at the sports hostel.
Jharkhand, who have been cutting a sorry figure at the nationals, is expected to put up a better show in front of the home crowd. "We have been conducting a training camp for over a month now. We have a good team which is expected to come up with an improved performance," said JSHA president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu.
Balmuchu, a Congress Rajya Sabha MP from the state, said that efforts had been taken for smooth conduct of the championships. "It's matter of pride that we are hosting this national meet. The Handball Federation of India (HFI) has allotted this event to us keeping in mind our ability to handle things efficiently. We are thankful to the national outfit," he added.
JSHA secretary Khurshid Khan said matches would be played in morning and afternoon sessions. "Preparations are almost complete. Most of the participating teams have already arrived. Twenty teams have dropped anchor, while the rest would be coming in on Tuesday. Matches will be conducted on four courts," he said.
Jusco MD Ashish Mathur would be inaugurating the championship at 3 pm in the presence of senior HFI officials and state functionaries. Jharkhand would play the inaugural match and their opponent would be decided upon late on Monday night.
"The technical committee of the HFI draws up the pool. It is reaching the steel city Monday night. Jharkhand's opponent in the first tie as well as the entire fixture will be finalised at the managers' meeting at the conference room of the JRD Tata Sports Complex," Khan said.
Besides the fireworks on the court, the annual general meeting as well as executive panel meetings of HFI would also be convened during the course of the championship, which would conclude on January 24.
