Bangladesh's handball stars face uncertain futures after youth success
Despite stunning India with stellar performances in 2023, young handball talents in Bangladesh are walking away due to a lack of career prospects and international exposure.
In 2023, Mst Marfi, Runa Laila and Tania combined for 39 of Bangladesh’s 46 goals as the under-17 women stunned India. Three years later, none has made it into the senior national setup.
A former Viqarunnisa Noon School and College student, one of the best in her class and a standout handball player, has already walked away. With no clear prospect of building a career in the sport beyond age-group level, she chose a safer path and declined to be named.
Assistant coach Dalia Akter, who was part of the 2023 team, points to a severe lack of international exposure. How many international tournaments have we played since the 2022 Islamic Solidarity Games? Zero. Not a single one, she told The Daily Star.
Bangladesh hosted a junior event in 2023 but have not played abroad since and missed this year’s Asian Youth Games. You cannot expect consistency by playing once or twice every few years, Dalia said, noting that progress takes several steps.
Misty Khatun, a degree student from Jamalpur and a national-team player, explained that players receive no regular salaries, only payments when they compete. Camps cover food and accommodation, but once players return to their districts, there are few facilities to sustain their training.
Federation secretary Salahuddin Ahmed said players receive Tk 500 a day during camps, alongside food and accommodation, with sixteen included in the government’s sports allowance scheme. However, until the national jersey offers a viable livelihood, Bangladesh risks losing more talented girls back to their books or early marriage.