Sri Lanka korfball introduction

A new korfball country starts to plan its arrival in the international korfball family. During period from 29 May – 9 June 2014 IKF instructors Mr Erik Buizer (The Netherlands) and Mr Pardeep Dahiya (India) visited Sri Lanka to run a joint project sponsored by IKF Development and Education Committee and Swan Fund. The program was designed under guidance from former player and physiotherapist of the U23 Dutch team, Mrs José van Nunspeet. She cooperates with children’s Rehabilitation Centre Home of Hope in the city of Alluthwatte.

In the first weekend an “IKF Level I – Introduction to korfball Course” took place with a group of 30 participants including 11 physical education teachers representing 9 different schools. Participants in the course will start the practice of korfball in Kandy (25 km. from Home of Hope) and some of schools in Digana (5 km. from Home of Hope). In Sri Lanka most sport activities are held in the schools. The rest of the group were young and enthusiastic students between 18-25 years. They will try to become the first team playing in international korfball events for Sri Lanka. We hope they can participate in the upcoming Asian universitarian tournaments.

During the rest of the week the sports facilities of Home of Hope were used to teach korfball to different groups. Every day the 85 children in the school could play. At the same time Colombo International School from Kandy participated in some introduction as well.

After introductions both institutions played a game with symbolic meaning, as it was the first ever korfball match in Sri Lanka.

Next steps for korfball in Sri Lanka are in the hands of Mrs José van Nunspeet and local Dr. Asela Ratnayake, a orthopaedic and sports doctor who followed the course and became very enthusiastic with the possibilities of korfball in his country. Hopefully the network of teachers attending the course will start regular practice during the year and finally the first korfball school tournament can be organised. This would be the perfect set up for the start of a new korfball organization in Asia.