Lucknow: Uzbekistan’s Youth Under-18 team won the IHF Trophy Men’s Youth and Junior Handball (Continental Phase – Asia) title by defeating host India 47-23. Uzbekistan also won the Junior Under-20 final, defeating Kazakhstan 38-18.
The Youth and Junior winning team of the championship will now challenge in the Intercontinental Phase.
India’s Youth team was the runner-up in the championship held at the newly built Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Multipurpose Hall of KD Singh Babu Stadium, while the Junior team won the bronze medal.
In the closing ceremony of the championship, guests K. Ravindra Nayak (IAS, Principal Secretary, Secretariat Administration), VK Singh (IPS, Additional Director General of Police), Suhas L Y (IAS, Secretary Sports, Uttar Pradesh Government) and Viraj Sagar Das (President, Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association) honored the winning and runner-up teams by giving them prizes.
Presiding over the closing ceremony, Executive Director of Handball Association India, Dr. Anandeshwar Pandey praised the construction of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Multipurpose Hall and said that this event could be organized in Lucknow only due to the presence of this sports complex built according to international standards. For this big initiative, I appreciate the guidance of the successful Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and the efforts of Sports Minister Girish Chandra Yadav.
He told that the construction of this hall was completed in a very short time with high quality under the direction of Project Manager PK Jain of Unit 21 of Uttar Pradesh State Construction Corporation Limited. In the end, Handball Association India’s General Secretary Dr. Tejraj Singh thanked the guests and participating players present.
Today, in the closing ceremony, IHF Technical Delegate Saleh Mohammad Saeed from UAE, Handball Association India’s Treasurer Vinay Kumar Singh, Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association’s Secretary Dr. Sudharma Singh, Uttar Pradesh Handball Association’s Organizing Secretary Amit Pandey, Lucknow Handball Association’s Secretary Dr. Sumant Pandey and other officials and sports lovers were present.
Today, in the Youth category final, Uzbekistan showed attacking game from the beginning against India and maintained its strong hold by scoring goals continuously.
Also read: Indian youth a win away from title
With the help of experience and agility, Uzbek players took a lead of 25-13 against the hosts in the first half. Indian players showed aggressive play on many occasions but they could not capitalize on the opportunities they got. Due to this, Uzbek players increased the margin and won by 47-23.
From the winning team, Yorkulov scored 9, Turgunov Kuvonchbek scored 7, Safarov scored 8 and Abdukarimov scored 6 goals. From India’s side, Ravi scored 7, Anshu and Praveen Gill scored 5-5 while Manish Yadav scored 4 and Suyash Awasthi scored 2 goals.
In the final of the junior category, Uzbekistan defeated Kazakhstan 38-18. Uzbekistan was ahead 17-6 till half-time. From Uzbekistan, Eshankulov Jaloliddin scored 8, Rakhat Joldasbaev scored 6 and Rahimov scored 5 goals. From Kazakhstan, Mikhail Salmov and Azizan Rakimzhanov scored 5-5 goals.
Earlier, in the third place match, the Indian junior under-20 team defeated Bangladesh 40-24 and won the bronze medal. India was ahead 17-9 till half-time. Jaspreet Singh scored for India.
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