Kiwi team eyes ticket to worlds

The New Zealand korfball team will look to create history at the Asia-Oceania championships in Hong Kong, beginning tomorrow.

New Zealand’s squad, which features 11 Canterbury players, must finish in the top four at the 10-country tournament to seal their ticket to next year’s world championships in Belgium.

If New Zealand can qualify, it would be for the first time.

New Zealand are ranked fifth of the countries competing in Hong Kong, so will need to beat a higherseeded team along the way.

The mixed sport of korfball has Dutch origins and combines elements of basketball and netball.

Teams try to shoot a ball through the opponent’s korf, which is mounted on a pole 3.5 metres high.

New Zealand’s opening game is against Japan tomorrow, before they take on Korea, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei in pool play.

The other group comprises Australia, China, Macau China, Malaysia and Indonesia. The final is next Saturday. Korfball New Zealand are considering an ambitious bid for the 2019 world championships. Qualifying for Belgium next year would be a huge boost for their bid.

Korfball Canterbury chairman Rob Smith said Christchurch could be an option for host city.

Canterbury has about 200 of New Zealand’s 500 active korfball players.

New Zealand’s prospects have been bolstered by the return of senior players Bevan Lawson and Rosa Cooper, who have spent extensive time in the Netherlands over the past year, where they trained and developed their game with the Dos’46 club in the town of Nijeveen.

The New Zealand squad includes 16-year-old Alice Cheersmith, who attends Papanui High School and is the baby of the team.