Secretary-general, Commonwealth Handball Association (CHA), Saidu Jibril Ojih has saluted the resilience of handball fraternity in the realm of commonwealth, pledging upscale activities in the New Year.
This was contained in his New Year message to handball stakeholders, expressing optimism on completion of the ongoing developmental projects and implementation of policies.
He described the busy schedules for national handball federations, notably the All African Games in Accra, Olympic Games in Paris, Club Championships, Regional and Sub-Regional tournaments as platforms to entrench the development of handball across all levels.
The experienced administrator believes the survival of the sport in spite of the global challenges in 2023 was a reminder that handball can be used to repair damaged bonds among communities and nations.
The former Nigerian International assured of the inevitable take-off of operations at the Commonwealth Handball Association Secretariat in Maitama Abuja in 2024.
He acknowledged the immense contribution from the International Handball Federation (IHF) and called on other administrative bodies of the sport to see the CHA as a meeting point to advance the sport in the territories and realms of the Commonwealth. “I must commend the International Handball Federation for their commitment to our mission.
Funding an operational secretariat is never an easy task.”
The Royal Commonwealth Games Federation continues to play a very crucial role but I call for improved support from the Confederation of African Handball. We collectively call on those working against the CHA to sheathe their swords this New Year as we cannot allow Handball to suffer because of personal interests,” he said.
He also disclosed that key decisions would be reached at the Commonwealth Games Federation meeting concerning elevating handball from the Commonwealth Youth Games to the professional status it deserves at the Commonwealth Games in 2026 and also a new host city for the games after Australian Cities of Victoria and Gold Coast withdrew from hosting the Games.
Jibril Ojih also confirmed that the Commonwealth Senior Men’s Beach Handball Championship will be held from May 26 to June 1, 2024 in Varanasi/Ayodhya India and urged member nations to intensify preparations for the championship.
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