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

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/HIDDENSTORIES and get on your way to being your best self.
In 2004, the ENTIRE Sri Lankan National Handball Team suddenly disappeared without a warning. How did this happen? And where did they go? Let’s find out…
If you're new here, hey! My name is Andy Jiang and I do vigorous, detailed dives into some of the most fascinating, bizarre, and unreal true stories that are out there. Subscribe and turn on all post notifications so you don’t miss any of my weekly uploads!
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#andyjiang #history #story

[@andyyjiang]

Hey everyone! Starting next Wednesday (October 4th), all future Hidden Stories will be migrating to a new, separate channel for clarity and simplicity. All of the current stories will still remain up on this channel, but all new videos moving forward will be posted on the new "Hidden Stories" KZbin channel here: www.youtube.com/@hiddenstoriesYT. If you want to continue keeping up with the weekly stories and my Hidden Stories series, subscribe to this new channel ✌

[@SuperSerferNow]

i was the 11th sub just missed top 10 but im happy this is a hidden jem

[@SuperSerferNow]

you my friend are a true cultured person def not same account

[@NoahKim290]

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

[@GregAlloins]

It feels so wierd having another Mr Ballen Ripoff but you actually like it and it's one of your top favourite youtubers

[@GregAlloins]

Never found out Andy actually does similar stories, the person I was talking about by the way was Mr ballen

[@JaceyWaceyFN]

400th like

[@joannstonebarger3545]

​@@GregAlloinsYes Andy has been doing them for years too!

[@quinnruss5541]

@@penewoldahh bro why would you say that without watching the video 💀 you’re good though

[@looniemoonie5955]

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.

[@sejrcarlsson5256]

Wait wha?

[@sejrcarlsson5256]

I understand true we have to do what we gotta do

[@BrawlEdits3K]

Can I get a hooyah

[@simpilot001]

I honestly hope those people all make it. The same people with no sympathy for your struggles have only the struggles they make up to complain about. They’re views are… wrong. You should leave if you can and want to leave. Or stay, that doesn’t mean you support anything. Do what you have to

[@jamjar5716]

@looniemoonie, I believe it is such a shame that some countries do not treat their people with basic human rights. I wish you and your family well.

[@ChandimaWanniarachchi]

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 🇱🇰

[@andyyjiang]

2 actors also decamped?? i heard about the movie but I had no idea, that's wild haha. thanks for the support man!

[@yasojawijerathna]

​@andyyjiang Some of the photos in video are from the movie, not real photos. Like the the team photos infront of Independace Square of which all are actors.

[@plumjet0930]

Did they find out what happened to them?

[@andyyjiang]

@@yasojawijerathna I just noticed this from another comment, thanks for bringing it to my attention. a good lesson for me to double check the photos and sources in my videos more in the future!

[@nahhnever3135]

​@@andyyjiangif what they say is true than you made a pretty fatal mistake. You wrote that that was a real photo of the handball team and your viewers will believe it not knowing they were just actors. I don't think it is ok to just leave it unfixed.

[@andyyjiang]

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 😅

[@Hellllloagain]

thx

[@invexical]

Thanks for informing us

[@ArcadeFreakistrash]

Lol

[@leonardnimoy7]

You're great at what you do, Andy. Thanks.

[@colorfulmarbles156]

This is an *AMAZING* story!

[@MysticiaDevHoopsMacabre]

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

[@Jack-fh3wm]

What does being American have to do with this?

[@ogi6694]

​@@Jack-fh3wmPeople like to write where they're from for absolutely no reason, but it's not a big deal anyways.

[@Jack-fh3wm]

@@ogi6694 true

[@MysticiaDevHoopsMacabre]

@@Jack-fh3wm Well, besides the part where Americans are notoriously prideful to the point of hate speech and graphic violence, but ya know. It’s nice to see goodness in this bleak world of ours. It really is.

[@Jack-fh3wm]

Holy this was only a month ago?? Hope ur doing well lol@@MysticiaDevHoopsMacabre

[@SfJames]

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! ❤😃

[@andyyjiang]

what!! this has to be one of the best compliments i've ever gotten, i'm genuinely shedding a tear 🥲 thank you, this really does mean a lot to me

[@ghostmelon64]

@@andyyjiangyou are really a good story teller and seem like a nice person and I love this channel as well. Thanks Andy! ❤

[@avalena1080]

Thanks Andy ❤

[@missmissy_90]

Well said Sf James. I'm envious of people that can speak so eloquently and Andy deserves every word. I completely agree.

[@phoenixfeather1199]

Andy , I could not agree more. You are really awesome . I enjoy and look forward to all your videos each day. Keep up the great work and all the best to you always. Love from the Caribbean.

[@tr0llol677]

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

[@ViolentCabbage-ym7ko]

Lol. Thanks funny

[@Thigamabob]

@@ViolentCabbage-ym7ko No.

[@ViolentCabbage-ym7ko]

@@Thigamabob Yes.

[@MinogFarted]

​@@ViolentCabbage-ym7ko Maybe.

[@halabig2]

​@@MinogFartedMaybe no

[@woofer13]

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.

[@missmissy_90]

Indeed. I miss so many community posts that I didn't know until episode 5. Which was nice to have 5 to hear. Now I patiently wait for Wednesdsy to hear thought provoking Hidden Stories. I adore Andy.

[@woofer13]

@@missmissy_90 As you can probably see, I adore Andy as well. 🙂

[@missmissy_90]

@@woofer13 Oh for sure I know that. I thought indeed implied that. Should have wrote agreed. I loved your comment.

[@woofer13]

@@missmissy_90 You posted your comment a month ago....but I only saw it just now. Anyway, thank you. 🙂

[@sounaysunday]

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

[@MRnoone945]

ye

[@beetlebg3759]

But the only episode you are dropping is in the toilet and it’s name is Hidden Bombs 😊

[@cheems6193]

Ikr my dad's the same he says he was just gonna get groceries then he was GONE

[@missmissy_90]

​@@beetlebg3759 Jealous much?

[@beetlebg3759]

@@missmissy_90 How in the world did my comment showed even the slightest hint of jealousy? Why would I be jealous of that guy? It’s a plain sarcasm and humour. I am sorry if I did not appealed to your weak humour.

[@XhantiZweni]

I wish Andy was my history teacher

[@ghostmelon64]

Same lol

[@mikkelnyhuus9173]

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.

[@daforkgaming3320]

It’s sucks that because of how the media portrays things, he was “rewarded” by losing what he worked so hard to build

[@Epic_Memer_Man]

BUT AT WHATTTT COSRTTTT!!!!!!

[@mikkelnyhuus9173]

@@daforkgaming3320 sadly he only gained recognition as a terror supporter initially and lost everything. Now we can at least toast his mental development regarding these immigrants.

[@mikkelnyhuus9173]

@@Epic_Memer_Man his dreams.

[@gripKings1238]

I am German

[@johnnyearp52]

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

[@anonimni1288]

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

[@coolwatyr]

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

[@Chickpeiris]

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

[@stellar_midnight]

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…

[@noobiumbaconate]

And I thought murica sucks

[@Luigion7]

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

[@Nyla_]

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.

[@Racingirl911]

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!!

[@ActionalGuy]

Andy I can not appreciate the hidden stories intro enough, the music and the design of it is amazing.

[@MashuStar]

I really really enjoy the audio editing format you use, it works so insanely well. Your story telling is really awesome and it's difficult to click away.

[@paulafair8543]

Andy, I like you stories. I like that in the main, they are uplifting and add compassion. For instance yes, the man who unknowingly organized this felt betrayed you circled back to show his compassion and understanding for the “team members” struggles in Sri Lanka. Please keep that up. You have a way of adding in light and pointing out the good. Thank you. This is why I watch & subscriber to your channel. :)

[@Battleshipguy20]

Andy had such a calming voice

[@seanseresinhe921]

I'm from Sri Lanka, so thank you very much for talking about this fascinating story!!❤

[@5ylokTheDefiled]

Your long form content is really awesome! I love hearing a more in depth telling of your short form stuff. Keep up the good work!

[@therealusman]

hey! i love your videos and it’s so interesting to see such deep dives into mysterious things like this, i loved the short videos but i love these even more, sometimes i was left on cliffhangers in the shorts but with this new style (already kinda old), it’s much more fascinating. i love your videos and keep up the amazing work! also betterhelp is a platform with many creepy and unprofessional therapists, i recommend you don’t accept any sponsorships from them in the future.

[@VoxKal3D]

I am from sr lanka.I should point out, at 3:24 That is not the real team and it was from the movie based on this story. Some of these images are from the movie. Oh and a similar story happened recently as well.

[@DontCare3000]

You are extremely good at telling stories. You are definitely the best I’ve seen so far.

[@timryanjamison6847]

Consistently interesting and well presented episodes, Andy.

[@amandawalski4407]

I love your stories! ❤Thank you so much for creating them! 🤗

[@elijahdiaz9794]

You’re so underrated Andy. You make amazing content and deserve a TON of more views

[@christinakoria4518]

The Pursuit of Happiness. This Andy is a great story teller. Thank you for these hidden stories!

[@Landon7222]

Andy always tell’s us amazing stories I Love you Andy!

[@marianahiga2790]

I just found out your channel! I like how you tell the stories and how trustworthy it is!

[@mindcalmingplaylists8227]

i live in sri lanka but now only i get to know something like this happened in my own country. thank u andy. big fan

[@sarahwestling9438]

Another great story! Thank you, Andy!

[@morbiddawg]

Okay, this is the first time I watch your long vid, and I am completely impressed. Hope you do more of these. Thanks Andy

[@x0_alex_0x91]

Thank you so much Andy for making sure to shed light on the truth. Thank you for making these fun and engaging. You're narrating skills, you're editing and even compilation of facts is beyond me. Well done, can't wait to see next week's Hidden Stories

[@cmkoruga3704]

I was so happy that it wasn’t another reason, like they had been taken or anything like that. Keep up the amazing work Andy. 🙏🙏

[@jasonlow8715]

As always another interesting story delivered clearly and informative.

[@itsmegagamer5057]

Ive been waiting for this!!

[@nobunaga5697]

I have so much respect to the German players and Dietmar for being so sympathetic with the players. They are honestly amazing people. Thank you for telling us their story!

[@Jfhe-543t]

Watching it rn! Keep it up!

[@lanascottlighthouse4934]

It's so funny that you're using better help as your sponsor today or that they've agreed to sponsor you because I just started grief counseling yesterday I talked about it in my channel a little bit but my boyfriend of 6 years passed away three years ago and then 2 weeks later my niece who had come to stay with us committed suicide two weeks after we had buried my boyfriend died of cardiac arrest I never got grief counseling I ended up last year selling my house and moving to California and also then kicking some friends of 16 years to the curb because once I moved here they proved not to be the people I thought they were even after sixteen years of friendship so I am just started grief counseling and I'm talking about that on my channel now about how important mental health is so way to go Andy.. I love your stories, I've been a fellow subscriber for at least 2 years and I've always thought you were such an amazing young man very articulate with time where these stories worth listening to!! I bet your parents are very proud of you keep up the awesome work you have subscribers out here that love you❤❤❤

[@smoceany9478]

betterhelp is a scam

[@joannafirsztzwierzynska7350]

Yeah

[@andyyjiang]

i'm really sorry to hear that, you've been through so much it's almost unimaginable. grief counseling is 100% the right move though, props to you for being able to make that choice. Praying for better times and life ahead of you, you got this!!

[@NVR5802XFREEPALESTINE]

Hope things get better

[@lanascottlighthouse4934]

@@andyyjiang YOU really are a sweetheart of a guy... Keep up the wonderful work .. I always look at your channel 😇🌹♥️

[@YochevedDesigns]

I really love your long form videos. MORE PLEASE!

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

OUTSTANDING I love this thank you Andy

[@bread7966]

Yesss ive been waiting all weekk!! We love you

[@reginasimmons3081]

Good story to listen to,at the end of a long day.Thanks Andy.

[@boldgirl1172]

This is the first time I have watched one of your videos, I enjoyed this. I have always watched your shorts

[@BarbaraKelley347]

Great story Andy! You put out great content and I’m subscribed. Been watching your shorts for awhile but didn’t know about this channel until now.

[@lanascottlighthouse4934]

So many countries are falling apart Andy it's just awful in my sixty years of life I've been just washing everything around the world fall apart in ways I never dreamed imagine when I was a little girl please keep bringing these sorries to light because you let us see how much darkness yet how much light there is in the world.. humanity itself is just struggling in general because the ratio of poor struggling people compared to the billionaire's is such a huge gap and those of us that are struggling are getting weaker all the time and while they're still up-and-coming millionaires and billionaires that number is still way smaller than the peons who are struggling in there was such a huge gap between us all everywhere everywhere around the world.. (don't mean anything negative by using the word peon I just mean those of us that are struggling compared to those that seem to have a lot more through either inheritance or something they worked for or new new companies new things that they have created that they are surviving and making money on you know we have more homeless people here in America then we do anything else and it's just so sad that it's everywhere it's not just America it's other countries as well and so many people are trying so hard to have a good life and it's just proving harder all the time) please keep up the great work of telling your stories because it lets us see that there are people out there that have the gumption to do something different to have a better life!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@paqlallaqldifi122_7]

what is blud yapping about

[@klips106]

⁠Have a sentiment.

[@johna.zoidberg3049]

​@@paqlallaqldifi122_7 Well, at least they didnt *BEG FOR SUSCRIBER AND FORTNITE-OBSESSED* like you are. 😂

[@Thigamabob]

Calm down Sri Lanka's fine, europe is way worse, prices are a bit more expensive but it is just as peaceful as it can be.

[@sitting_ina_dark_room]

I know what you mean! It's really sad growing up and realising that life only benefits some. It's not fair 😢 We need to make a better world 🌍

[@ririmr4978]

WOW, great story. Thank you for all you do.

[@pineapplesushi3000]

These videos are definitely gonna be popular later on. Giving my support from the beginning!

[@apicalmitten502]

This guy make his video very interesting with gestures and the way he talk is so good that i cant skip the vids he uploads

[@favourbekky8818]

I’m officially hooked to ur channel. ❤

[@ben7607]

This was super interesting! Italy sounds so nice to live in tbh, when you remove the bad stuff

[@sapiosexualchick3119]

You're a GREAT storyteller!

[@alesiahowington5507]

I enjoyed your video. Keep up the good work!

[@shloinks]

I was honestly very excited for this one and it was awesome

[@Credess]

i love listening to these stories keep it up

[@itsrockstar1976]

His videos our on a different level

[@dhairyakashyap7618]

Love your stories

[@amnaasjad2890]

Very kind of german to bring srilanka and very kind of you andy to make this video and giving me knowledge ❤

[@tbird399]

Keep doing what your doing!

[@AviationAnalysis5987]

Your narrating is Perfect

[@ayushpanicker5874]

Andy is one one of the only youtubers that actually reads the comments Love You Man!

[@hypernova9363]

I find it so wholesome that the Germans were so understanding of the Sri Lankans

[@teanavann8541]

👍 great story. Thank you!

[@MrAnnoyingYouBadly]

You do the shorts baiting videos very well. Calling them "trailers" is genius. Waaaay smarter than those "follow for part 2" or showing an incomplete story to make me search out a 90 minute podcast type of videos. And the stories are good, like a TV14 version of MrBallen(his videos creep me tf out sometimes). Basically I'm just a happy subscriber

[@NVR5802XFREEPALESTINE]

Nice informative video bud

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

Gotta admit, that was a crazily brilliant way to get out of the country

[@ShowerMedia]

This is a great video

[@septemberkozicki7264]

What happened with Deitmar after he understood the handball team decision to seek better for their families and themselves? Did he change his mode of helpfulness? Great story telling ANdy.

[@Dazumu]

Currently having a Sri Lanka passport is an automatic rejection for any Western European country these days. So even high level Atheltes can't even get a visa to compete there.

[@jostrong2385]

Thanks for the story.

[@Mahmudsavage]

i woke up at 5:00 in the morning just to watch the new hideen stories vid thx for a banger andy

[@sharonmitchell5695]

Fascinating as always, you are excellent in your presentations. My heart goes out to the people all over the world that are denied freedom by their own governments or by rebel groups who have over thrown legitimate governments.

[@aaravcreationstv5537]

love this series

[@salamicookies]

Most underrated show on KZbin 😭

[@jaxet8399]

This is amazing

[@123warsie]

Love your videos

[@azeemmutaherzerger3397]

I wait for a new episode of hidden stories everytime

[@orangedoorhinge9283]

It's a shame the video at the time has less than 5000 views. These videos are very informative so i thing it deserves more attention.

[@johnnyearp52]

No need to be negative. More will come.

[@LukaSL9]

My fav day of the week

[@NetITGeeks]

This is such a great feat! I also hope they are doing well.

[@kingblitz1415]

Wow, your videos are amazingly well made, I thought that would be, kinda meh but they're great

[@henryomagadiaz1961albay]

Hi Andy I'm A Big Fan Since 2022 Love Your Vids Keep It Up Love From The City Of Antipolo,Philippines

[@Benjaminjay22]

Andy I always find your video shorts very interesting. I do feel like this makes people more aware of what's happening in a very serious situation and I do have one idea and for a story you can do. I am someone who has a visual impairment or blindness and I use a white cane. Not a lot of people know about it.

[@avikntoc]

any way you can turn on the option to play all on your videos? love to binge great channels like yours while i work from home.

[@oreonba]

Haven’t even watched it yet but IM SURE it’s gonna be A BANGER

[@thatdutchguy2670]

Nice video! You should do a video about the story of Wim hof next, would appreciate it.

[@sleepypotato4046]

I love these vids❤

[@user-gs8jq9zh7l]

I’m happy that the link wasn’t a Rick roll

[@pengioclips9222]

I love how the most replayed spot in the video is the end of the ad read XD

[@ahmadganteng7435]

Hope situation in Sri Lanka will be better very soon.

[@yxngahmed3]

perfect timing

[@UncommonEyes]

Have lived, worked in Sri Lanka, even during the war time. When I read handball team- say WHAT🤔, are you kidding?! As best I could tell cricket was the ONLY game in Sri Lanka, possibly the actual national religion! Don’t blame these guys for their scheme, pretty crafty.

[@neuro3834]

This story is heartbreaking.

[@navs485]

Correction 3:27 That photo is not the real photos. That's a screenshot from the movie that was made about this story. But great presentation!

[@sudhap2008]

This is a very nice video❤❤