Earlier today at the South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka took to the court for their first ever International match. Taking on a more experienced India side they came out on the short end of a lopsided 58-28 match. They will have an opportunity for a better result tomorrow against Pakistan.

In 2004, a Sri Lankan team was formed as a ruse to obtain visa to illegally immmigrate to Europe. Never intending to actually play a match they ending up doing so and video of their match against a German club is now available on Youtube. A fictionalized account of this team was made into a movie titled, Machan. In a bit of irony, according to a blog posting, one of the actors in the film took advantage of shooting in Germany to emigrate as well. That’s right an actor portraying an illegal immigrant became an illegal immigrant and is reportedly now doing well in London.

South Asian Games Handball Webpage: http://rubaisport.com/sag/?competition=handball

The Island (30 Jan 10): After ‘Machan’, SL handball makes ‘real’ international debut: http://www.island.lk/2010/01/30/sports3.html

BBC (15 Sep 04): Sri Lanka handball team vanishes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3658966.stm

THN (3 Sep 08): Sri Lankan Handball Movie Debuts at Venice Film Festival: http://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.591

Machan Official Website: http://www.machanthefilm.com/

Youtube Video of Match vs German Club in 2004
– Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUkCrfOs0Tw&feature=related
– Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIw_VJjeANI&feature=related
– Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkIJiUvThMo&feature=related

Sri Lankan Blog commentary on video: http://ravana.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/the-real-fake-sri-lankan-handball-team-playing-the-real-match-in-germany/