Indian Women's Junior Handball Team Faces Financial Hurdles Ahead of World Championships

The Indian Women's Junior Handball Team is on the brink of competing in the World Championships, but financial challenges loom large. Players are forced to fund their own expenses due to a lack of support from the Handball Association of India, which has faced derecognition. With personal stories of struggle and determination, the team is striving to make their mark despite the odds. Discover how these young athletes are overcoming obstacles to represent their country on an international stage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 23, 2026, 05:37 IST

Challenges Faced by the Women's Junior Handball Team

The aspiration of representing India at the Women’s Junior (U-20) Handball World Championships is nearing fulfillment for the 12 players coached by Sachin Chaudhary. However, the journey to this prestigious event in Jinzhong, China, from June 24 to July 5 has come at a significant cost.

Instead of focusing on their training for this major competition, the athletes were required by their state associations to contribute Rs 3 lakh each for their accommodation and meals. This financial burden stems from a lack of support and internal conflicts within the Handball Association of India (HAI), which has led to its derecognition and consequently, no funding from the sports ministry for the tournament.

Soumya Srivastava from Kanpur shared that her father is undergoing liver dialysis twice weekly, and her brother had to borrow money from relatives and friends to support her dream of competing for India.

Soumya expressed her frustration, stating, 'We had to take a loan. It’s a tough time for us, but what can we do when the government doesn’t recognize our federation?'

Kanishka, hailing from Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, echoed similar sentiments, revealing that her father works as a state forest guard. 'We also had to borrow money. Those who managed to pay are heading to China, while many others couldn’t afford the fee and are missing out on this opportunity,' she noted.

Captain Riddhima, also from Bilaspur, mentioned that their preparation has not met the necessary standards for such a significant event. 'We only had a week-long outdoor training camp at DAV School, Sector 8, Chandigarh. The tournament will be indoors. We did our best to work on team plays, and we aim to perform well,' she said, adding that her father operates a medical shop.

Anandeswar Pandey, the executive director of HAI, stated that they had no choice but to seek financial assistance due to the lack of funds. 'The Sports Authority of India had previously funded a month-long training camp for these players during the qualifying tournament. Now that they have qualified, SAI has not provided any financial support,' he explained.

He also criticized the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the ministry for not recognizing HAI as the legitimate governing body, despite the International Handball Federation (IHF) confirming its status. 'The IHF president has reached out to the IOA twice, affirming that HAI is the only recognized body in India. The IOA has been reminded of the IOC charter, which mandates that the national Olympic committee must acknowledge the federation affiliated with the international body. Yet, they remain inactive on this issue,' he added.