GUWAHATI, Dec 19 � The Assam Handball Association has been handed over the responsibility by the Handball Federation of India to host the 36th Junior (Boys) National Handball Championship. The State handball body has decided to organising the championship at Jorhat from January 6 to 11.
An organising committee has been set up to hold the competition in a befitting manner with MP Bijoy Krishna Handique as the chief patron.
Addressing a press conference here today, the organising committee president Kamal Jyoti Gogoi said that the Jorhat District Sports Association playground will be the venue for the meet and the players will be accommodated at the Agriculture University campus. The organisers have prepared a budget of Rs 30 lakh for the six-day meet.
Assam Handball Association president MLA Susanta Borgohain revealed that altogether 540 players from 29 States will take part in the championship. He also said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will present in the opening ceremony as chief guest. The organisers are also trying to invite Olympic bronze medallists boxer MC Mary Kom.
No fund from NEC: The vice president of the Handbal Federation of India, Kalyan Gogoi said, despite fulfilling all the formalities, the North Eastern Council (NEC) has turned down their plea for providing fund to the national level meet.
Gautam Choudhury, secretary of the State handball body, said that the coaching-cum-selection camp of the Assam team will start at Dimow from December 25. He hopes that Assam will reach atleast the semifinal stage.
Players selected for the camp: Rituraj Boro, Moonmoon Saikia, Paban Saikia, Deep Sonowal, Babul Kathar, Chittaranjan Patar, Nipon Bora, Aditya Patar, Nipon Tanti, Satyam Roy, Debajit Moran, Arup Moran, Abani Das, Rinku Boro, Bhabesh Haloi, Saddam Hussain, M Ahmed, Rahul Saikia, Raju Limbu, Nabajit Deka, Biplob Deka, Biju Boro, Rahul Dey, Dipak Tanti, Manoj Gogoi, Tarun Pandav, Biswa Kurmi, Utparsh Ghosh, Namir Sayra, Rupak Kalita, Munna Bongjong, Manoranjan Boro, Debajit Saikia, Khirod Bora, Titu Pandey, Anjur Ali.