The Handball Association of Ghana collaborative Open Championship with Cantonment Youth Handball Club in memory of Madam Karen Slowe has begun with much enthusiasm, pace and style at the Prisons Handball Court in Accra.

The 3-day U-20 Championship from Thursday, August 2 to Saturday, August 4 saw 4 matches on day 1. Exclusive to civilian clubs only, 10 male clubs and 8 female clubs registered to battle for the ultimate price and trophy at stake.

Cantonment Youth men started on a good note, beating Ashaiman Handball Club 21-11. Their women however, couldn’t repeat the feat achieved by the men as they were held to a 13-all game against Hostac.

Asomdwe men were next up against Kasland in a match they dominated from start to finish, winning by 24-7. El-Wak Wings women couldn’t continue with their fine form and resilience in the first quarter of the last match against Renijoe. A wonderful comeback by the latter won the day for them in the dying embers, 16-12.

The single round robin championship which has two groups for each category continues on Friday at 6am with Kasland Women coming up against Legonite. Legonite men will then play Lekma, while El-Wak wings lock horns with Winneba Unique Fingers. There will be 14 more matches to complete the day 2 fixtures.

Group A of the Women Clubs is made up of Cantonments Youth, Hostac, Ashaiman and Winneba Unique Fingers while group B has Renijoe, Legonite, El-Wak Wings and Kasland.

The men group A has Cantonment Youth, El-Wak Wings, Renijoe, Winneba and Ashaiman. In Group B, Asomdwe, Hostac, Legonite, Lekma and Kasland battles for the top two into the next round

Some 15 minutes will be played at the group stages and if all matches are cleared on time, the organizers might decide to increase the time as it progresses.

The late Madam Karen Slowe, whose husband, Peter Slowe is the Guest of Honor for the Championship, was a known handball player and enthusiast.

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey/voltaonlinegh.com