The team visits the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]
A delegation from the China national korfball team, led by Ma Xiangcheng, director of the Zhengzhou University (ZZU) International Korfball Development Research Center, recently completed a training camp in the Netherlands. During their stay, the team visited the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and achieved three consecutive wins in high-level friendly matches.
At the embassy, Cultural Counsellor Yu Jian met with the delegation. He noted that korfball, as the national sport of the Netherlands, offers a unique platform for cultural exchange between the two countries. He commended China's method of integrating the sport within university systems, recognizing ZZU's central role in cultivating professional talent.
Professor Ma briefed the embassy on the progress of korfball in China and ZZU's contributions in talent development, research, and international cooperation. He highlighted the long-term partnership with Dutch institutions, using korfball as a bridge for cultural dialogue.
Then the team undertook a 12-day intensive training camp and played three friendly matches, winning all games against local Dutch clubs, which helped build match confidence and identify areas for improvement.
The team participated in the Korfball Challenge 2025 held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, as the only invited non-European team. The tournament, organized by the Royal Dutch Korfball Association (KNKV), concluded on Dec 30, attracting strong teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, and other countries.
The China national korfball team wins the match against OOST club. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]