Swimmer sees challenge on dry land

After more than a decade of training in the water, swimmer Johney Leung Wai-chun decided to get out of the pool to do a different kind of sport: handball. To his surprise, he's quite good.

The Form Five student, from Pok Oi Hospital Tang Pui King Memorial College in Yuen Long, started playing handball last year. His friends were playing for fun during recess and lunch break. In the summer, they formed a team. They are now trying to launch a boys' handball team at school - without success so far.

Johney, 18, is determined to start the team, but that doesn't mean he has abandoned swimming.

For many years, he has won medals in the Yuen Long district inter-school championships, including three gold medals last year. He has also represented Sai Kung district in New Territories competitions, and competed in the second and third Hong Kong Games for Yuen Long.

He's less lucky with handball - his school does have a handball team, but it is for girls only. Starting a boys' team is proving to be a challenge.

'My friends and I are really in love with this ball game. I want to play on a team, because in swimming, I seldom have to work with teammates and it can be boring,' he says.

Last year, their application to set up a boys' handball team was denied. School authorities say there is a lack of resources.