India Triumphs Over Singapore, Aiming for Historic Finish at Asian Women’s Handball Championship
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New Delhi, Dec 8 (NationPress) India secured a decisive victory against Singapore with a score of 35-22 on Sunday during the Asian Women’s Handball Championship (AWHC) 2024 held in New Delhi, setting the stage for their best-ever tournament finish.
Historically, India has never finished higher than sixth in this competition, and they are now set to face China on December 10 in the playoff for 5th/6th place.
With the support of their loyal fans, India started the match against Singapore with remarkable energy, establishing a lead of 9-6 midway through the first half, thanks to the consistent scoring of Menika and Bhawana Sharma. On the defensive end, captain Diksha Kumari and goalkeeper Nina Shil—who saved a penalty and was named Player of the Match—made critical stops to thwart Singapore's attacks. The Indian team maintained their dominance throughout the second half, resulting in a decisive win.
The tournament, sponsored by the World Handball League (WHL) and organized by the Asian Handball Federation, has seen this relatively young Indian team display remarkable courage against some of Asia's top teams, demonstrating resilience and determination. In the group stage, India triumphed over Hong Kong-CHN 31-28 in their opening match, narrowly lost to the semi-finalists from the previous edition, Iran, by two points, and achieved the most goals in their group against Japan.
Reflecting on her team's performance in the tournament thus far, captain Diksha Kumari stated, "Our team has exhibited extraordinary spirit and resilience throughout this tournament, whether facing Hong Kong, Singapore, Iran, or Japan. Each match has served as a valuable learning experience, allowing us to challenge ourselves against some of the best teams in Asia on our home turf. Our focus has been on consistent scoring and maintaining defensive strength, and we take pride in our unity. This journey motivates us to aim even higher."
While the Indian team's performance at the Championships has showcased numerous positives, it also signifies the potential for accelerating the national team’s progress, marking a crucial shift from being perceived as underdogs to becoming a formidable contender in Asian handball.
