In the heat of the scorching summer, coming back from an outdoor game held under 30 degree Celsius, ten-year-old Wong Yan Yu is still seen in energetic mode holding hockey gears and chatting non stop with her teammates. Having started hockey just two years ago, she was accepted into the Hong Kong Feeder system last January and now aims to represent Hong Kong in national competition. Her diligence has earned recognition from the coach and mother. The “Jebsen InspiringHK!” Programme aims to help students discover their interests and strengths, giving them the opportunity to shine on the field.
From Curiosity to Passion, Growing Amidst Tears of Determination
Yan Yu is currently in primary four, in addition to weekly IHKSports training, she participates in one to two Hong Kong feeder trainings. Her journey in hockey began simply out of curiosity. Having been selected for both rope skipping and hockey class back in 2022, she was forced to choose between the two sports and went with the latter which she later explained, “At that time, I hadn’t even heard of hockey and had no idea what it is! So I decided to give it a try.”
Every session begins with warm up, some passing drills, positioning and skills training followed by matches to conclude. Yan Yu is responsible for both offence and defence. In the first months of training, she often was in tears after losing in matches.
Her mother tried to comfort Yan Yu, “They were all beginners in the sports and have not got to know each other yet , making it difficult to perform well in matches. Later, she understood that everyone faces failure and the important thing is to keep trying. As all the students became more involved and committed, I seldom see her in tears anymore.”
Blood, Sweat and Tears, from Dream to Team
Hockey is a sport that requires lots of teamwork, an aspect seen by Yan Yu as the biggest challenge in training, “Keeping your eyes on the ball and still being aware of your teammates’ movement is not an easy task, quite often it leads to passing to the wrong person. “However it is also team spirit that has captivated her to continue playing, “I enjoy training, working hard together with my teammates especially in practising passing drills. As we get to know each other more, we communicate better on the field.”
After two years of training, Yan Yu now knows the importance of communication with her teammates before each competition as well as during debriefing, “I will remind my teammates about their position so we have better understanding of each other on field. ”As only the goalkeeper is allowed a helmet on the field, Yan Yu has experienced a broken lip from getting hit by a flying ball. But she was so focused that she barely noticed the pain, “Since It was only minor bleeding, I chose to continue playing and dealt with it after class.”
When she was in primary three, Yan Yu brought her hockey stick to the school talent day, showcasing her dribbling skills. “Everyone was captivated and interested in hockey!” Yan Yu’s mother is extremely proud to see her daughter so devoted to the sport, “Often we are unsure how our children act in school, but through her dedication in hockey I know for sure she truly loves the sport.” Yan Yu’s outstanding performance has earned her a spot in the Hong Kong feeder system. Despite her small stature, she holds big dreams, which is her motivation to train regardless of rain or shine. “I hope to represent Hong Kong one day and make Hong Kong proud.”