Association of Handgrip Strength with Selected Anthropometric Variables and Flexibility Measure in Indian Inter-university Handball Players

Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to assess the handgrip strength of Indian inter-university handball players, and to examine its association with selected anthropometric variables and flexibility measure. Methods: A total of 200 Indian inter-university handball players aged between 18 and 25 years were purposely selected as samples. The players were recruited from the Inter-University Handball Competitions conducted during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, which included zonal championships (North and West zones) organized under the Association of Indian Universities. Eight anthropometric variables were measured in all participants, namely height, weight, body mass index, upper arm length, forearm length, total arm length, hand length, and hand breadth. Flexibility was assessed using the sit and reach test. In addition, right and left handgrip strength were also measured. An adequate number of control subjects (n = 200) were selected from the same location for comparison. Results: The findings of the study showed statistically significant differences between male and female handball players and control subjects in all the variables studied, with probability values p ≤ 0.001. Furthermore, statistically significant positive correlations (P ≤ 0.023-0.001) were observed between both right and left handgrip strength and all the measured variables, except body mass index (BMI), among the inter-university handball players. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results suggest that handgrip strength can be considered an important indicator of overall physical strength as well as flexibility in handball players and may be effectively used for talent identification and training program planning.