40th Interamnia World Cup-Italy

HFS nominates Team NUS to the 40th Interamnia World Cup in Italy last July.

Team Manager Andy Lwi from the NUS Mens Team shared with us their valuable experience and insights on the trip.

Getting there

On 1st July 2012, a group of Team NUS students stood at the departing gates of Changi Airport Terminal 3 and bade farewell to their loved ones. These are the privileged athletes who, with the recognition and support from the Handball Federation of Singapore, will be representing the nation and Team NUS in the Interamnia World Cup for the very first time! The Interamnia World Cup, located in Teramo, Italy, has been recognized by the International Handball Federation as the world’s biggest junior handball tournament. This year will be the 40th Interamnia World Cup and a staggering number of 190 teams and 1800 athletes are expected to take part.

For many of us, this was the first time we were participating in an overseas tournament and naturally we were all very excited throughout the journey. Even a 20-hour flight could not dampen our spirits as we finally arrived in the beautiful city of Teramo. Once there we were accommodated in Notaresco, a picturesque town and commune in Teramo, where we would stay for the next 9 days of the tournament. This was the beginning of our Interamnia World Cup experience.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony, held on 4th July 2012, was nothing like what we had expected. Decorated with a myriad of national flags, the streets of Teramo were turned into a parade ground. The crowds on both sides of the pavement were loud and overwhelming. As we were participating in the tournament for the very first time, we were blessed with the good fortune of being the first team to parade down the streets! With the national flag and Team NUS flag held high, we felt an utmost sense of pride as we walked around the parade square while the national song ”We Are Singapore” was blasting through the air. Yet, at the same time it was a humbling experience for us when we saw the countless number of athletes from different nations parading after us.

The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the opening ceremony. We met people from all over the world who share the same passion as us, took pictures with them, danced with them, and even sang together. The ideals of the Interamnia World Cup, celebrating youth and friendship, were indeed encapsulated in the ceremony.

Games and Results

Despite our excitement to play, we knew that we were no match for most of the teams that we were about to meet in the tournament. These are teams who have been playing the sport for more than a decade and some of them are even professional clubs who have taken part in established leagues around the world. Our objective in this tournament was, hence, simple: To play to our best abilities without giving up.

 The following are the respective results for the Team NUS Handball Male and Female teams after nine days of competition:

Game	Score	Game	Score
Team NUS (M) vs. DC Diplomats (USA)	8-15	Team NUS (F) vs PCM Koscerzyna Polonia (Poland)	7-20
Team NUS (M) vs. Cerutti Crash (Switzerland)	6-26	Team NUS (F) vs Watan HT (Turkmenistan)	6-0
Team NUS (M) vs Isfahan University (Iran)	12-26	Team NUS (F) vs ZRK Kosaca (Bosnia)	14-20
Team NUS (M) vs. H. Tapolka (Hungary)	17-18	Team NUS (F) vs Jaszbereny (Hungary)	8-13
Team NUS (M) vs. Uzbekistan	1-26	Team NUS (F) vs H.C. Reggio (Italy)	17-10
Team NUS (M) vs. VSH2002 (Denmark)	14-25	Team NUS (F) vs Team Alberta (Canada)	8-25
Team NUS (M) vs. SPE Strovolou (Cyprus)	13-26

Overall, Team NUS Handball (M) emerged 8th in the U30 Male category while the Team NUS Handball (F) emerged 6th in the U30 Female category.

 Learning points

Although we were outclassed by the vast difference in skill level between us and the foreign teams, what we learned from the Interamnia World Cup are invaluable. Technical aspects aside, we understood the importance of mental preparedness for a game. Most of our opponents were bigger, faster and more experienced players than us. We had to calm our nerves and focus on playing our own game by having a team mental preparation and visualization session before each match. This was effective in ensuring that we concentrate on our own strengths while not being affected by our opponents.

Also, we recognized the importance of conducting active recovery during a tournament. In the Interamnia World Cup, we had to play two games a day for three consecutive days which caused a lot of stress on our body, making us prone to fatigue and injuries nearing the end of the tournament. Conducting active recovery such as swimming or stretching helped to reduce fatigue and risks of injuries, hence ensuring that our team can play at full capacity in the following games.

Conclusion

The Interamnia World Cup has indeed been an eye-opener for us. We will not forget our time there, the places that we visited; the friends that we made and the things that we learned. Most importantly, we aim to pass on what we have learned from playing with the foreign teams to the local handball community, thereby raising the overall standard of handball in Singapore.