Champion Chinese Taipei will be tough to beat at IKF AOKC

Asia-Oceania champion Chinese Taipei has arrived in Hong Kong with an experienced and well-prepared squad determined to defend its title at the IKF AOKC.

In camp at home for the past 11 days, the squad includes Ricky Wu, aptly nick-named the ‘Asian Sensation’ during his years in the Korfball League in the Netherlands. Along with nine of his colleagues in the present IKF AOKC 2014 squad, Ricky won a bronze medal at the 2013 World Games, or at the 2011 IKF World Championship, or both. Members of this ‘golden generation’ of Chinese Taipei korfball have been playing the sport for an average of around eight years.

Residents of Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan county and Nantou county, the final squad of 16 was named in July following a process that began in October last year when an initial selection of 22 players was named after two national tournaments in October.

Most of the Chinese Taipei national team players were originally recruited to school korfball teams when they were studying in primary or junior high schools. Most are now university students, although some are primary or high school teachers.