Central Asian women ready in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Following the completion of the AHF Asia Zone 1B (East & South East Asia) on Sunday, Mongolia will host the Zone III (Central Asia) IHF Women’s Trophy regional competition for 2019/20, with the tournament throwing-off on Monday (6 May) and finishing on Friday (10 May).

 

Mongolia’s capital city Ulaanbaatar will be home to the second Asian competition for both youth (Under 17, born in 2002 and younger) and junior (U19, born in 2000 and younger) players.

 

10 teams from five nations will be represented with Kyrgyzstan (KGZ), Tajikistan (TJK), Turkmenistan (TKM), Uzbekistan (UZB) and the hosts, Mongolia (MGL), fielding teams in both age groups.

 

Both competitions will be played in a round-robin league format, with all teams playing each other once and the winner of each respective league being crowned champions.

 

All games will be played at the Buyant-Ukhaa Sports Palace in the Khan-Uul district of Ulaanbaatar, with referees Yu Liu/Xiang Xu (CHN), Khamis Al-Wahibi/Omar Al-Shahi (OMA), Ahmad Gheisaran/Amir Gheisaran (IRI) and Kasidit Noochan/Teerapat Suansiri (THA) whistling.

 

The winners of their respective competitions in Ulaanbaatar will qualify through to the continental phase of the IHF Women’s Trophy 2019-20, and then the winners of that will qualify through to the IHF Women’s Trophy: Intercontinental Phase.

 

And for junior teams only the intercontinental phase has been upgraded to a qualification event for the 2020 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, set to take place in Romania. For more information, click HERE.

 

As usual, the IHF will be organising a coaching course during each IHF Trophy competition and as part of the continued support for developing handball nations, the IHF will also cover the travel expenses of all teams to the competition venues.

 

Speaking ahead of the event, IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa said:

 

“The IHF Trophy is one of the most important development projects of the International Handball Federation as it gives emerging and developing handball nations all around the world the opportunity to gain experience on the international stage.

 

“Five years have passed since Mongolia hosted their last IHF Trophy tournament and now, in 2019, it is their time to shine once again as they welcome 10 junior and youth teams from central Asia to bring handball in the focus of fans, sponsors and media in the region.

 

“Besides the highly motivated host teams, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will try their best to claim the tickets to the continental phase in both categories and I am convinced that we will see many exciting matches over the course of the tournament.

 

“Since the introduction of the new IHF Trophy format, ultimately there is a spot at the 2020 IHF Women’s Junior (U20) World Championship at stake in the junior’s category – another incentive for the teams to surpass themselves - may the best team win.”

 

Member of Parliament, Minister of Education, Culture and Science, and Sport of Mongolia, Baatarbileg Yondonperenlei added:

 

“I am pleased to welcome all participants to my beautiful country. On behalf of the Organising Committee and Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sport Mongolia, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Executive Committee Members of the International Handball Federation for giving us this opportunity to organise this tournament and express my sincere gratitude to all organisations, volunteers, supported sponsors and individuals who are involved.”

 

 

For up-to-date news, videos and photos, visit the Mongolian Handball Federation official website at: http://www.handball.mn and follow them on Facebook. 

Match Schedule

All times local

 

Monday 6 May

09:00    MGL vs UZB (Youth)

11:00    UZB vs KGZ (Junior)
14:00    Opening Ceremony

15:00    TJK vs TKM (Youth)

17:00    TKM vs TJK (Junior)

 

Tuesday 7 May

10:00    KGZ vs MGL (Youth)

12:00    MGL vs UZB (Junior)

14:00    UZB vs TJK (Youth)

16:00    KGZ vs TKM (Junior)

 

Wednesday 8 May

10:00    TJK vs KGZ (Youth)

12:00    TKM vs MGL (Junior)

14:00    TKM vs UZB (Youth)

16:00    TJK vs KGZ (Junior)
           

Thursday 9 May

10:00    KGZ vs TKM (Youth)

12:00    MGL vs TJK (Junior)

14:00    MGL vs TJK (Youth)

16:00    UZB vs TKM (Junior)

 

Friday 10 May

09:00    TKM vs MGL (Youth)

11:00    TJK vs UZB (Junior)

13:00    UZB vs KGZ (Youth)

15:00    KGZ vs MGL (Junior)

17:00    Closing Ceremony