Indian Handball Players Pay From Their Own Pockets as Funding Crisis Hits U20 World Championship Squad

Only 12 of the 18 selected Indian handball players will travel to the IHF U20 Women's World Championship in Jinzhong, China, starting June 24, as a severe funding crisis continues to hit Indian handball. The players had to borrow Rs. 3 Lakhs to afford the international travel. The Indian squad left on Monday to compete in the tournament.

The IHF U20 Women's World Championship will be held from 24 June to 5 July, where 32 nations are participating in the competition. According to Anandeshwar Pandey, the funding is limited to the major events like the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics. Another source says that India lacks solid administrative bodies for handball, which led to the funding crisis. Based on that reason, the sports ministry and the Sports Authority of India refused to sanction the budget for the Handball Authority of India. Previously, SAI allotted the funds for the Asian Championships, but this time, despite the plea from HAI, no calls for help were answered.

For the 12 players who did make the trip, the experience of representing India at a World Championship has come at a personal financial cost. Instead of focusing entirely on preparation for the biggest competition of their young careers, these athletes had to arrange funds and, in many cases, borrow money to secure their participation. The majority of the Indian handball players come from an impoverished background. The IOA is yet to act on the matter.

Sportscapestresses that until the IOA resolves the HAI recognition dispute and funding structures are extended beyond just the Olympics and Asian Games for the Indian handball players, stories like this will keep repeating themselves. The state of sports infrastructure in India is deeply saddening.