The 2023 University Handball Championship, the final handball college competition of the year, took place at Taebaek Gowon Gymnasium from September 6 to 12. The Kyung Hee University (KHU) handball team emerged victorious, with three goalkeepers among their 13 players. Starting with the first game of the preliminary round, they won all five games and the championship by a significant margin. As a result, KHU won its second championship trophy of this season after winning the 20th Taebaeksangi National Handball Competition in July. It is also the first championship in three years since their University Championship victory in 2020. The KHU handball team has rightfully earned its reputation as a handball powerhouse, securing two out of three championships held this year. The University Life interviewed three key players, Kang Deok-jin, Byun Seo-joon, and Jung Woo-young from the KHU handball team to learn their story of reaching the top. 

Their Journey to the Top

Kang, Byun, and Jung, three key players from the KHU handball team, shared their experiences and perspectives on their journey to the top. 

Kang, on the verge of graduating from KHU, reflected on his handball career, which began in elementary school when he discovered his talent for sports while playing dodgeball. He was encouraged to try handball when he was young, and he has dedicated himself to the sport ever since. 

Byun, who was selected as the team captain for next year, credits his introduction to handball to a physical education teacher who was a former handball player. With the teacher’s recommendation and a general interest in athletic clubs, Byun started to play handball. 

Jung also started playing handball when he was in elementary school, initially joining the athletic club for the simple reward of snacks. As he approaches his last year at KHU, Jung aspires to leave a lasting legacy as a great player. 

All three players started handball at a young age for simple reasons, but they all now possess an unwavering passion for handball. They expressed their disappointment at handball’s relative unpopularity compared to other ball games. They hope that more people will recognize the charms of handball and develop an interest in the sport. 

Thrills of Handball and the Path to Victory 

Kang, selected as the most valuable player (MVP) for his outstanding performance throughout every tournament, expressed his gratitude to his teammates for making the award possible. “The MVP prize was much more meaningful because it was my first time to receive an individual award, and I am grateful to my team members since it was not an award made only by myself.” He also shared his desire to be a role model for his junior players during his final KHU games. 

Asked if there was a new method of training that led to their victory, Byun replied that the players primarily focused on mental strength training. He stressed that they exercised with great intensity, and all his team members worked together to do their best with their shared goal of victory. He recounted a memorable moment before the game?a surprise birthday party for one of their trainers?that helped boost team morale and contribute to their success. 

Jung recalled their coach’s motivational speech just before their departure to the stadium was stimulating. The coach scolded the players, warning them about the possibility of preliminary-round elimination. “Now that I think back, I think the coach tried to motivate the players to work harder,” he said, adding that it was one of the factors that led to the victory. He also emphasized that despite the team’s dominant performance, the journey was far from easy.

Teamwork, Attitude, and Aspiration for Excellence

The KHU handball team’s success is rooted in their shared mindset of giving their best on the court, recognizing each game as their last. “We all must play our best on the court, keeping in mind that this is the last game.” Despite the team’s prestigious reputation, the players remain humble, constantly striving for improvement and perfect teamwork by maintaining strong bonds between seniors and juniors. 

The team places high value on attitude, believing that the approach to each game is paramount. This emphasis on character is why the KHU handball team has such a high reputation. Not only Kang was selected as the MVP, but head coach Kim Man-ho and coach Cha Jae-woo also received honorary leadership awards. 

The players said they have a strong desire to be remembered as good seniors and role models for their junior players. As such, they aim not only to achieve their individual goals but also to seek to contribute to the team. Kang, however, lamented handball’s relative unpopularity, hoping that many more people will experience the thrill and sense of accomplishment that comes with scoring a goal during the match. 

Team Doosan’s Kim Min-kyu, a recent graduate of KHU, is considered the most notable professional handball player. He played exceptionally from his rookie year, helping Doosan secure the title for eight consecutive seasons. He received the Rookie of the Year award for the 2022-2023 season and is continuing to inspire the KHU team with his outstanding performance. All players of the KHU handball team have the goal of joining the professional league and are dedicated to becoming outstanding professional players. The recent championship success serves as an inspiration to aspire handball players and further solidifies KHU’s position as a powerhouse in university handball.