Handball in India

In India, Handball and Handball Federation of India was founded by Mr. Jagat Singh Lohan, a Jat from Rohtak (Haryana) who was an alumnus of YMCA College of Physical Education of Madras (now Chennai). Lohan was founder/father of Handball, Netball and Throwball games in India. His efforts in Germany during Munich Olympics helped in establishing Handball Federation of India. The Member States were Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Vidharbha and Jammu and Kashmir. He was also elected as first Secretary General of Handball Federation of India.

Handball in India
CountryIndia
Governing bodyHandball Federation of India (HFI)
National team(s)men
women
First played1972 (1972)
Club competitions
Indian Premier Handball League

The first Senior Men's National Handball Championship was held at Sir Chhotu Ram Stadium, Rohtak (Haryana) in the year 1972. Haryana won the gold medal and Vidharbha got the silver medal.

Handball is a popular sport in India, played at local level in India but hasn't made it big in domestic level. India has yet to make an impact at international level and the World Cup.[1]

Performance at Asian championships

Due to huge efforts of the HFI administrators, India started participating in the Asian Men's Handball Championship in 1979 and the Asian Women's Handball Championship in 1993. Though the teams were not able to win any medal at any championship, the participation in the events are bring experience and exposure for the players and coaching staff which more important.[2]

CategoryBest RankTotal TeamsYearHost
Senior Men5th51979 China
Senior Women6th72000 China
U-21 Men8th112006 Japan
U-20 Women5th72000 Bangladesh
U-19 Men6th122018 Jordan
U-18 Women5th52005 Thailand

Performance at Asian Games

Indian men's handball team first participated in the Asian Games in 1982 when the event was hosted in New Delhi. Women's team debuted in the event 2006 held at Doha.

EventBest RankTotal TeamsYearHost
Men8th81982 India
Women8th92014 South Korea

Performance at South Asian Games

Indian men's handball team is the second best team of Asian Games after Pakistan. Men's team debuted in the event in 2010 and won silver medal losing to Pakistan in the final by 37–31.[3] In the 2016 edition, India get their revenge when they hosted the event in Guwahati, narrowly defeating Pakistan by 32–31.[4] In the 2019 edition Pakistan dethroned India beating them in Kathmandu by 30–29.[5]

Indian women's handball team is the best team of South Asia winning both edition of the South Asian Games in 2016 and 2019 defeating Bangladesh and hosts Nepal respectively.[6]

EventBest RankTotal TeamsYearHost
Men1st62016 India
Women1st62019   Nepal

Handball leaders

Since the foundation of handball and Handball Federation of India (HFI), many government officials and other renowned personalities were involved in it. They not only represented handball in the Indian Olympic Association but also represented Indian handball at international level. One of these is HFI President Dr. Roshan Lal Anand, the longest serving Director of National Institute of Sports.[7][8] Anand was elected as Secretary General of Asian Handball Federation (2000 - 2013) unopposed for continuously 13 years.[9] He was also elected as IOA Secretary General.[10]

Dr. Surinder Mohan Bali, who is the longest serving HFI Secretary General, was elected as Member of AHF Marketing Commission.[11] Bali become the first Indian who was awarded with IHF Badge of Merit in Gold for his contributions to the development of handball by the International Handball Federation during the 2009 IHF Congress held at Cairo (Egypt).[12] Bali is also a member of Executive Council of the Indian Olympic Association.

Dr. Anandeshwar Panday, who is current HFI Secretary General was elected as Member of AHF Commission of Organizing and Competition and Treasurer of Indian Olympic Association in 2017.[13][14] Following is the list of HFI administrators who also holds other prominent positions: Note: Only highest position per organisation is mentioned in the table

Rank in HFIName of OfficialDesignation in other organisation
HFI PresidentH. L. KapurAir Vice Marshal of Indian Air Force
HFI PresidentDr. Roshan Lal AnandSecretary General of Asian Handball Federation
Secretary General of Indian Olympic Association
Director of National Institute of Sports
HFI Secretary GeneralDr. Surinder Mohan BaliJoint Secretary of Indian Olympic Association
Member of AHF Marketing Commission
HFI PresidentDr. Sarwan Singh ChannyIAS Officer
HFI PresidentDr. M. RamasubramaniIPS Officer
HFI Sr. Vice-PresidentN. Shyamananda SinghIPS Officer
HFI Secretary GeneralDr. Anandeshwar PandayMember of AHF Commission of Organizing and Competition
Treasurer of Indian Olympic Association
Secretary General of South Asian Handball Federation
HFI Sr. Vice-PresidentDr. Pradeep Kumar BalmuchuMember of parliament, Rajya Sabha
Minister of Planning and Development, Government of Bihar
HFI Vice-PresidentEr. Rooparam DhandevMember of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
HFI Vice-PresidentSatpal SinghRecipient of Padma Bhushan and Dronacharya Award

References
  1. "Handball India". Sports In India. handballindia.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  2. "Championship History". www.asianhandball.org. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  3. "South Asian Games Handball: Final Results". www.teamhandballnews.com. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  4. "Men's Handball Final Match: 12th South Asian Games 2016". PIB's YouTube Channel. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  5. "Pakistan men's Handball team labours to Gold over India in 13th South Asian Games". www.khilari.com.pk. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  6. "SAG Handball: India clinches gold in men's and women's event". www.sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  7. "IX Asiad: India's brightest hopes are in the athletic contingent". www.indiatoday.in. 30 November 1982. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  8. "NIS museum adds no new memorabilia in 43 years". Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  9. "Continent Info". www.ihf.info. Archived from the original on 6 December 2001. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  10. "Organisation". www.olympic.ind.in. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  11. "Marketing Commission". www.asianhandball.org. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  12. "Fascination for Thousands of Years: HANDBALL" (PDF). www.uv2s.cerimes.fr. p. 143. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  13. "Commission of Organizing and Competition". AHF's Official Website. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  14. "New IOA office-bearers felicitated". www.thehindu.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
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