India keep alive hopes of best-ever finish in Asian Women's Handball

India gave themselves a chance to achieve their best possible finish in the history Asian Women’s Handball Championship when they defeated Singapore 35-22 on Sunday at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall at the Indira Gandhi Complex in New Delhi.

India have never finished among top five but courtesy Sunday’s win the team will fight China in the 5th place playoff on December 10. India had ended third in their group behind Japan and Iran.

Charged by their fans, India opened the placement match against Singapore with high energy, leading 9-6 midway through the first half, thanks to Menika and Bhawana Sharma's consistent scoring. At the other end, captain Diksha Kumari and goalkeeper Nina Shil – who also saved a penalty and was adjudged Player of the Match – made key saves to keep Singapore at bay. The hosts maintained their overall dominance on the other side of the interval, securing a comprehensive win.

Speaking on her team’s display, captain Diksha Kumari said, “Our team has shown incredible spirit and resilience throughout this tournament, whether against Hong Kong, Singapore, Iran, and even Japan. Every match has been a learning experience for us and we have pushed ourselves to compete with some of the best teams in Asia at our home. Scoring consistently and staying strong defensively has been our focus, and we’re proud of how we’ve come together as a unit. This journey inspires us to aim higher.”

Earlier in the day, China ensured their place opposite India in the 5th place playoff by beating Hong Kong-CHN with a resounding 38-14 scoreline.

Tags : Asian Women's Handball, India, Sport, Singapore, China, New Delhi