Kerala defeated Odisha 39-24 at the SB College in Changanassery.

Kerala defeated Odisha 39-24 at the SB College in Changanassery.

Kerala defeated Odisha 39-24 at the SB College in Changanassery.

Hosts Kerala made a winning start to the 53rd Senior Men's National Handball Championship at SB College in Changanassery on Thursday.

Kerala defeated Odisha 39-24, while West Bengal posted one of the biggest wins on the opening day, a 36-6 hammering of Lakshadweep.

Gujarat crushed Telangana, 50-13, defending champions Haryana defeated Arunachal Pradesh, 35-20, Maharashtra won 39-13 against Puducherry, while Uttarakhand edged Punjab, 24-20 in other matches. Indian Railways, Chhattigarh, Delhi and Bihar were among other winners on the first day.

ADVERTISEMENT