Amid the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, the two countries had their team go against each other in the 10th Asian Beach Handball Championship. On 9 May 2025, in Oman, Muscat, two teams played.
During the league fixture, the Indian team wore black bands, but the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) and the organisers asked them to remove them, according to an exclusive report in the Times of India. They also warned that it could lead them their team getting removed from the tournament.
Team India first decided to boycott the match fixture to avoid any backlash from fans. The 10th edition of the handball championship was scheduled to be held from 6 to 15 May 2025. India, however, lost the pool match by 0-2 held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The final is to be played on May 15.
“There’s no clear advisory from the govt which stops the Indian teams from playing Pakistan.” – Anandeshwar Pandey
Executive Director of the Handball Federation of India (HFI), Anandeshwar Pandey, released an official statement via the Times of India. “As per the International Handball Federation’s (IHF) charter, we would have to pay a fine of $10,000 if we boycotted the match. We also faced the prospect of a two-year ban from international competitions. The AHF told us categorically that if the Indian team didn’t turn up for the match, it would be counted against the spirit of Olympic charter. We were left with no other option,” he said.
“Before the start of the match, the HFI had written separate letters to the sports ministry and Indian Olympic Association (IOA), seeking their guidance whether we should play Pakistan or not. They didn’t immediately respond to our mail and the match was upon us. There’s no clear advisory from the govt which stops the Indian teams from playing Pakistan. Had there been one, we would have pulled the team out of the competition,” he further added.
For the Latest Sports News: Follow RevSportz