Locals set on bringing handball to the forefront
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Patrick Chang and Jens Hertha didn’t grow up playing your typical sports. Unlike many children who are exposed to soccer, basketball and volleyball at an early age, Chang and Hertha were introduced to team handball, a sport that is hugely popular in Europe and growing worldwide.
Chang, 19, was born in Sweden and Hertha, 34, in Germany where team handball is as popular as soccer or ice hockey is in Canada. Both competed at high levels in their home countries before immigrating to Richmond in 2005.
“It’s a fast, physical sport,” says Chang. “it combines the speed of hockey with the teamwork of soccer and the excitement of basketball.”
Team handball is a fast and popular game played in 183 countries and enjoyed by over 30 million people worldwide. But it is little known in North America, although the sport is gaining momentum and Richmond’s young handball stars hope that it will continue to grow.
“When I moved to Richmond I was really surprised that the game was not played here in Canada,” says Hertha.
“it was really difficult to find others who knew about the sport.”
Chang and Hertha were able to link up with the B.C. Team Handball Federation and now play on a team that represents the province. Every year, their team travels to the Canadian Team Handball Championships where they play against teams representing the other provinces. They also participate in tournaments hosted by club teams in Canada and the U.S.
As a way of showcasing the sport, the BCTHF is hosting a demonstration game at the Richmond Olympic Oval on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. Admission is free and more information can be found at www.vancouverhandball.ca.
Chang and Hertha will be participating in the demonstration game, and in the near future hope to introduce the sport to Richmond’s schools and community centres.
