Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s U-19 national handball team has been disqualified from the home Asian Championship due to age violations by three athletes. According to the tournament rules, only players born in 2006 or later were eligible to participate.

The discrepancies were found in the documents of Anastasia Khudoyorova (born 2005), Sevinch Erkabaeva (2004), and Sabina Mullaeva (2005). It is noted that Erkabaeva previously served as the national team captain, competed in the CIS Games in Brest, and was recognized as the tournament’s best playmaker. All three also participated in the 2024 Youth World Championship.

The Asian Handball Federation ruled that, since these athletes are ineligible for the 2026 U-20 World Championship, Uzbekistan’s team must be removed from the final stage of the tournament, and all group-stage results have been annulled.

As a result, the team also lost its spot at the World Championship.

The Handball Federation of Uzbekistan has filed an appeal with the International Handball Federation (IHF).