A squad of mainly Timaruvians will be representing New Zealand at one of the world’s biggest sporting events this week — in a sport that may be unfamiliar to many Kiwis.
For the first time the New Zealand men’s fistball team will be competing at the World Games, a 10-day multisport event that is held every four years and features sports and sporting disciplines that are not contested at the Olympics.
As a sport, fistball can be closely likened to volleyball but is played five a side rather than six and outdoors in a larger area, and players may only use a closed fist to strike the ball, which is allowed to bounce once before being returned.
The squad of nine includes eight players from Timaru, and departed for Chengdu, China last week ahead of their first game on Saturday.
Team manager Bronwyn Kempf said the players were excited to be taking part in such a major event.
‘‘A lot of them have been to two world champs but the World Games is different — it is huge. There are only eight teams competing, and we had to qualify for the Asia-Australasia spot by beating the likes of Australia and Japan.
‘‘To be going is awesome but it is going to be tough — for example, at the world champs in Switzerland there were about 20 teams. We finished 11th but when you’ve got a few more games there are more opportunities to win.
‘‘It’s been very hot over there lately as well, most of the week it is forecasted to be between the late 20s and late 30s [°C].
The boys have been having saunas for the last few weeks to adjust and doing everything they can to get used to the conditions that they’re going to be facing.’’
New Zealand have been placed into group B along with Italy, Chile and Argentina.
They will play Argentina first on Saturday and then face Chile and Italy on Sunday before progressing into either the knockout or placement games, which take place Monday through Wednesday.
Kempf said Timaru had become a bit of a national hub for the sport after her son and captain of the team, Samuel Kempf, first came across it about seven years ago.
‘‘Our daughter lived in Christchurch and she was studying with a family who played the sport and were involved in the local league in Christchurch.
‘‘Our son went to visit her and then went along to play with them and really loved it. Next thing he was selected in the New Zealand team to go to a tournament in Australia. He came back to Timaru, roped in some of his friends and the rest is history.
‘‘A lot of sporty guys and ex-volleyball players who already had the skill set got involved and it has just grown. We have a social competition that’s run here October-ish through to March and we get quite a few teams playing at Anzac Square.
‘‘It’s a great sport and it’s going from strength to strength. We’d love more people to get involved and to see it continue to grow in New Zealand as it is a really big sport in Europe.’’
Matches will be livestreamed on either the New Zealand Fistball Association or South Canterbury Fistball Facebook page.
