Bangladesh women’s U-17 coach Dalia Akhter has asked for help from Bashundhara Group to develop and promote handball, especially women’s handball in Bangladesh.

“Bangladesh handball, especially the women’s handball, needs sponsors to take off ahead. Bashundhara Group is the country’s largest business conglomerate that can promote and stand beside handball in Bangladesh,” Dalia told the reporters during the logo unveiling ceremony of the Bangabandhu IHF Trophy Women’s (youth and junior) Tournament 2023 at its premises in the capital on Saturday.

Bangladesh Handball Federation hosted the IHF Trophy in 2016. The federation decided to host this regional meet after a long seven years this year and named it after Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The U-17 and U-19 teams from four nations -- India, Nepal, Maldives and hosts Bangladesh -- will compete in the meet from May 13-17 at the Shaheed Capt (retd) M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in the capital.

“Most of our regular players are missing due to the Secondary School Certificate and equivalent examinations. There are only two experienced players while most of the others are newcomers, but we have good preparations for this meet. So we can expect positive results in this meet,” she concluded.