A goal of healthy fun

Eight months remain until the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, yet in May, most parts of China were in the midst of spring, with natural ice surfaces rare sight.

Because of this, an"alternative ice sport"from Europe is gaining popularity in China. The story began in 2002, physical education teacher Chen Xin, then 27, stepped into a Swedish sports club in Shanghai.

The Shanghai International Studies University(SISU)teacher had felt there was a significant decline in student enthusiasm for sports and wanted to find out about activities that might appeal to young people.

At the club, Chen witnessed a spirited game amid towering Swedish athletes, a petite girl held her own, moving about her competitors with fervor and determination and using her stature swiftly and effectively in defense and offense.

It was Chen's first encounter with floorball, and she found it exhilarating, engaging and, crucially, safe and easy to grasp.

"That's the sport I'd been searching for, "Chen recalled.

Floorball, also known as indoor bandy, is a type of floor hockey with each team consisting of five players and a goalkeeper wielding blade-topped sticks to hit a plastic ball. The game was invented in Sweden in the late 1960s and quickly became popular for its minimal equipment and space needed. By the 1970s, formalized rules were established, signaling the advent of floorball as a competitive sport and ensuring it was increasingly played across the world.

On top of a growing number of fans like sports teacher Chen, floorball is also offering a way for many athletes to focus on an activity that can allow them to train during spring and summer.

Compared to hockey, floorball is designed to be safer with its lightweight sticks made primarily of carbon material together with hollow plastic balls perforated with holes to reduce injury risks. The sport requires speed, agility and teamwork.

Convinced of its potential, Chen resolved to introduce and popularize it within the university. The first step was to garner interest among her students.

"Since nobody knew about this sport, I wanted to draw students in by associating it with something more familiar. This sport bears similarities to ice hockey, but without skates, "Chen said.

"Thus, 'land-based ice hockey'(handi bingqiu in Chinese)became its name in China. "

In February 2018, China unveiled the Olympic Education Programme for Primary and Secondary Schools in preparation for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, including plans to introduce non-ice variations of winter sports in select southern cities. The move aimed to cultivate the interest of young people in winter sports and facilitate a gradual transition to traditional ice-based activities.

In February 2019, the General Administration of Sport of China officially recognized floorball as one of the promotional projects for winter sports leading up to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

With a swift swing, the ball sailed through the air in a graceful arc toward the goal. The goalkeeper sprang into action, successfully deflecting the ball. As the final whistle blew, cheers erupted and players embraced in triumphant celebration.

This marked the inaugural trial game at the SISU campus in 2008, orchestrated by Chen Xin. Gathering about 200 female students, she aimed to ignite their interest in floorball through direct involvement. As the match concluded, the passion of the competition reverberated through the arena, moving spectators to tears, including Chen herself.

As a pioneer of floorball promotion in China, Chen embarked on a journey from scratch in 2002. Initiating partnerships with sports equipment suppliers, she also extended invitations to foreigners in Shanghai to join floorball games.

"I hosted barbecue dinners with beers for them after their matches on our campus. Their participation progressively enriched the floorball community here, "she said.

Years of dedication began to bear fruit in 2008 when Chen secured a sponsorship deal with a Swedish company in Gothenburg, providing necessary gear for students in five universities in China.

In a pivotal development in September 2008, floorball became an elective course in physical education at SISU and Chen encouraged more students to try the sport.

"The game was a resounding success. It showcased strong team spirit and a vibrant atmosphere of unity, "she said. From this first game in 2008 at the SISU campus, floorball gained popularity in Shanghai, culminating in a university floorball group venturing abroad to Singapore in 2014 for the 6th World University Championships for Floorball.

"It's a pity that university players often lose interest in floorball after graduation, "Chen said. "I believe health is as important as academic and career achievements. My mission is to engage more people in sports activities and empower them for healthy growth, a commitment I'll fulfill lifelong. "

In 2013, driven by the desire to instill a lifelong love for sports in the younger generation, Chen established the China Floorball Development Center. That same year, armed with 20 floorball sticks sponsored by a Shanghai nonprofit group, she began on a journey to Bangzhai Primary School, nestled amid the mountains in Qingzhen in Southwest China's Guizhou province.

"The teachers'average age was above 45 and there was no professional sports teacher or playground, "Chen said, referring to the dearth of sports personnel and facilities experienced by many rural schools.

"Some pupils even have to walk to school for as long as an hour, and although they get exercise, some principals don't see the need to introduce new sports, "she said.

A trial game was held in front of Bangzhai's school principal surnamed Liu, who was deeply moved by the enthusiasm and joy he saw on the rural children's faces. The young players used their sticks to chase a small plastic ball, transforming the earthen school grounds into a makeshift court, with two flowerpots serving as goalposts.

Bangzhai became the first primary school of its kind to embrace floorball in rural China. In 2016, Chen made a bold decision to depart from SISU after 16 years and start the Vikings Floorball Club, with a focus on training young people and coaches in the basics of the sport.

"Many thought I was crazy for leaving a stable teaching job, "she said. "But I wanted to do more. We've been exploring ways to engage Chinese children in physical activity, especially within limited spaces. Floorball fits the bill as it's suitable for all ages and can be played anywhere, including rural China. "

Fu Chuguo, a floorball coach at Kangshengzhuang Center Primary School in Linqing, East China's Shandong province, said:"Floorball is interesting, fast-paced with less physical confrontation, and requires minimal equipment, making it very suitable for pupils as a preparation to ice hockey. "

Hu Shengyi, a former student of the school, skilled in both winger and defender positions, was once the star player of the floorball team. She attested to the significant improvement in her stamina since joining the sport. Hu has even traveled with her team to Shanghai for U-Series floorball games, competing with youth teams from major cities.

Many rural students now regularly participate in the U-Series floorball matches in Shanghai, providing them with valuable sports training and exposure to competition in larger cities.

During the past decades, Chen has dedicated herself to promoting floorball in China. According to data from the Shanghai Floorball Association, Chen and her team have conducted training sessions in almost 200 universities and 2, 000 primary schools across at least 28 provinces and municipalities, with many of these primary schools located in rural areas.

"I am also from a rural area. Sports completely transformed my life, "Chen said.

As a child, Chen had battled severe asthma and was often confined to her bed. Driven into a corner, her parents sent her to soccer school, hoping that sports could keep her healthy. Most children growing up in Xiapu in East China's Fujian province were enrolled in soccer, a popular sport in the area.

"It was painful at first and I cried a lot in the training base, which was far away from my home, "Chen said. "Sports can give not only good health but also build a brave heart, to face challenges and news things in life. "

Chen then went on to become vice-captain of the Fujian women's soccer team in the 7th National Games in 1993, after which she tried a new sport, taekwondo, and ranked third in an inaugural national-level championship in 1995.

Her luminous career in sports now includes the high point of introducing floorball to students in thousands of schools nationwide.

Time flies, Chen's identities turned from a young girl playing soccer to strengthen her weak constitution, to a professional athlete, to a university teacher using physical education to help improve others, and now to a promoter of floorball. "One day, sports will give back to you and tell you everything is possible, "she said.

Wu Qiling and Jiang Duo contributed to this story.