The Bizarre Disappearance of Sri Lanka's ENTIRE National Handball Team | Hidden Stories

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Respect to the people for helping Sri Lanka and not making fun of them But damn the “handball team” was dangerously smart

A movie called 'Machan' was made based on this story. Two Sri Lankan actors who came to Germany to shoot the film also disappeared 😂Thanks ANdy for your amazing content. Love and respect from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

As Russian, I felt that. It's all about survival. People blame us and mock us for leaving the country, but if we don't- we become cannon folder. You have no idea how many people left Russia for Kazakhstan, Georgia, Thailand etc. I understand these Sri-Lanka "players"- everybody wants to LIVE.

Turns out that the photo I showed at 3:26 is not actually a real image of the handball team, it’s an image from the movie “Machan” about this incident 🤦‍♂️ the video footage from the games are all real though! I should’ve double checked the source of that image, that’s a good lesson for future videos. I also thought I had pinned a comment earlier but I guess it completely slipped my mind

As an American, it touches me how humble and welcoming the Germans treated the Sri Lankans.

Andy of all the informative narratives online or on "TV", I consider your's to be the most interesting and sincere. Not only has your online presence and speaking gone from 'good' to "Amazing", but you have such passionate exuberance and, apparently, strong ethics. I don't know if anyone has offered your parents/guardians any credit, but it's obvious you were raised with the ability to be kind and compassionate. I hope your passion keeps you on track with your dreams and goals in life. I'm sure we'll see you as a superstar one day if that's your desire. 😊 As always, keep up the great work! ❤😃

I got addicted to your video shorts, and didn't realize that you also created longer videos. I'm excited to know that you do these too. I love your voice, your personality, and your content. Perfect in every way possible. Thank you.

The movie "machang" is inspired from this story. Funny thing is two actors who went to italy to shoot this movie also disappeared.

God, you know it’s a good day when a new episode of Hidden Stories drops 😄

Im a Bosniak and many of my relatives have escaped the country during the war so they could find a better life and home. And they did this in various ways for instance my uncle in order to escape the Serbian forces disguised himself as a soldire took his wife and then he nicely came up to another soldire and said he was taking her as a prisoner, and they actualy belived him. So he and his wife escaped to the nearest airport and made their way to Germany. And there are many other stories like this that my relatives told so hearing a story about refuges disguising themselfs as a handball team to escape the troubles of their situation really hit close to home

I wish Andy was my history teacher

As a young sri Lankan living in Australia , thank you for telling this story about my country ❤😊

I love your storytelling, Andy. You have such passion and dedication to the stories that you tell. Thank you! ❤

These are the kind of stories that make me feel so lucky that I’m American. I feel as I take it for granted, because as this story states, it’s not as easy for people in other countries. And, I think Andy has turned into my online history teacher…

Dietmar unintentionally made the lives of around 20 young men and their families better and raised awareness of Sri Lanka’s issues. What a legend.

I was hooked from the teaser trailer, and I don’t regret watching one of these Hidden Stories for the first time.

Dietmar Doering had good reason to be angry. 15 years of hard work destroyed and the guarantors for the players also got problems. I'm glad he sympathized at the end, but it was for sure also a tough time for him. Hope everyone involved is doing well now.

ANDY–I love how you tell your stories! Your passion for doing a story justice is very evident! You and I may be from different places, but I, too, cannot tell a good story without using my hands! Part of the reason I started watching you was because of how you told your stories. I am so glad you are doing what you do. You do a great job, and I hope you continue to make our imaginations soar!! 😊 Best wishes to you for all of your future endeavors!!

I took a volleyball class in College. Our teacher had defected from Czechoslovakia's volleyball ball team.