LPU-Phagwara Triumphs at 20th All India Women's Handball Championship in Jaipur
In a thrilling display of skill and determination, LPU-Phagwara emerged victorious at the three-day 20th All India Hanuman Singh Women's Handball Championship 2025-26, held at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday. The team lifted the prestigious title after a hard-fought final match against Northern Railway.
Championship Final and Semi-Final Highlights
The summit clash saw LPU-Phagwara secure a narrow victory over Northern Railway with a final score of 26-23. At half-time, the winning team held a commanding lead of 16-8, showcasing their dominance early in the game. In the semi-finals, LPU-Phagwara delivered a strong performance by defeating BSF 23-9, while Northern Railways overcame hosts Rajasthan with a score of 27-25. As a result, Rajasthan and BSF finished as joint third-place teams in the tournament.
Awards and Recognitions
Bhavna Sharma of LPU-Phagwara was honored as the best player of the tournament, receiving the Hanuman Singh Trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 5,100. Additionally, the best players in all seven positions were awarded cash prizes of Rs 2,100 each. The award recipients included:
- Best Goalkeeper: Pooja Jat (Rajasthan)
- Best Right Back: Monica Nain (Northern Railway)
- Best Center Back: Shivani Devi (Himachal Pradesh)
- Best Left Back: Shalini Thakur (LPU-Phagwara)
- Best Right Wing: Priyanka (LPU-Phagwara)
- Best Pivot Player: Priyanka (Northern Railway)
- Best Left Wing: Rukmani Bithu (Rajasthan)
Ceremony and Dignitaries
The closing and prize distribution ceremony was graced by Rajendra Singh Sisodiya, deputy commissioner of the Jaipur Development Authority, as the chief guest. The event was presided over by Mahendra Sharma, patron of the Rajasthan State Handball Association (RSHA). Special guests included Madan Singh Khinchi, president of the Balotra Handball Association, and CA Mukesh Agarwal. Other notable attendees were Yash Pratap Singh, honorary secretary of RSHA; Lokesh Sharma, treasurer; and Bhanwar Balveer Singh Rajawat, joint secretary.
Tournament Organization and Participation
The championship was organized by the Rajasthan State Handball Association and Hanuman Singh Foundation, under the aegis of the Handball Association of India. It received sponsorship from AU Small Finance Bank, Indian Oil, and Chirkli. A total of ten teams participated in the tournament, competing in 23 matches over the three-day event. Yash Pratap Singh highlighted that the competition aimed to promote women's handball by recognizing top talent across all positions.
Honors for Coaches and Officials
On this occasion, Sachin Choudhary, head coach of the Indian women's handball team (Indian Railways), and coach Manisha Rathore (Rajasthan) were honored for their contributions to the sport. The judges and technical officials, including Chandan Thakur (Himachal Pradesh), Jitendra Singh (Delhi), Kirti (Telangana), Bhagwan Singh Mevanagar (Rajasthan), Chandrashekhar (Rajasthan), Uttam Singh Shekhawat (Rajasthan), and Poyush Chaudhary (Rajasthan), were also felicitated for their diligent work in ensuring the smooth conduct of the championship.
