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Early training and strong team spirit pave the way to victory in handball competition
Ying Wa College clinched all three grade titles  to become the overall champions of the Division One Handball Inter-secondary Schools (Hong Kong Island and Kowloon) Competition.
'We're very happy and excited to win the overall championship after coming first in grades A, B and C,'  said Ying Wa  coach, Pong Yiu-wing.
Ying Wa  have one of the strongest handball teams among  secondary schools in Hong Kong.  In February this year, Ying Wa proved their superiority  by winning the All Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Handball Tournament.
Pong said Ying Wa had an advantage over other schools because the players receive early training.
'We start training handball talents when they are in primary school,' he said. 'Therefore, our team is already intact  when they are promoted to Secondary One. This makes our Grade C team very strong.
'There is less time for foundation training if an athlete starts  playing handball when he enters secondary school.'
The coach said it is better to learn handball skills at a young age.  'It is important  that they know how to protect themselves. Besides, they can read the game better if they start training at a young age,' said Pong.
'Body contact  in handball is  only a little less than rugby. Therefore, besides protecting themselves, handball players should have great courage.'
Team member Ryan Ng Yin-kwai, 18, agreed. 'You can't be afraid of pain or falling if you play handball. From handball, I've learned to face the challenges, never give up and  strive to reach the target.'
Ying Wa  students  practise two times a week after school.
Their handball team is like a big family.
'We're good teammates on the court and great friends off the court.  Therefore, our team spirit is strong and this helps  us to beat other teams,' said Garson Lau Ka-shun, who, like Ryan, has been on the school's  handball team for five years.
Pong said  his next target is the primary school handball championship. 'We'd set a record if our primary school team can achieve the goal. We have the confidence [to do it],' he said.



Ying Wa prove they're the best