Indian handball team had to arrange money itself (File Photo)Image Credit source: Handball Association
In a few weeks, the excitement of the Commonwealth Games and then the Asian Games 2026 will begin, where the country will have hopes and aspirations of medals from its players. The government is spending a lot of money on players for these games. But just before these games, India’s Under-20 handball team has to spend its own money to play a tournament abroad. The Women’s Under-20 World Handball Championship 2026 has started in China from June 24, but the Indian team participating in it had to bear its own expenses and many players also had to take loans worth lakhs.
Players themselves raised Rs 3 lakh each
According to a report, the Women’s Under-20 World Championship is being organized in Jinzhong, China from June 24 to July 5. A team of 12 members has also gone from India for the same tournament. But while this team is representing the country, it has not received any financial assistance from the country for this. It has been told in the report that it was made clear to the players that if they want to participate in the tournament, they will have to arrange Rs 3 lakh each themselves.
The Handball Association of India (HAI), the organization that governs the game in the country, asked the players to manage the money, which surprised them. It has been told in the report that many of these players are not even financially capable, due to which they had to arrange this amount by borrowing and then the players could leave for China on June 22. A total of 32 teams are participating in this tournament, where India has been placed in the group of France, Egypt and Sweden.
The reason is dispute regarding handball organization
Now the question is why did such a situation arise? So the reason behind this is the same which is related to many other sports in the country. Actually, there is a controversy regarding the organization governing handball in the country. Actually, HAI handles the functioning of this game in India and it is recognized by the International Handball Federation. But the Sports Ministry of the Government of India does not recognize it and the Handball Federation of India (HFI) is recognized by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). But the International Federation has not recognized HFI. Due to this dispute, the HAI team has not received funding from the Sports Ministry or the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
