The Asian Winter Games in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, may seem a distant prospect as most parts of China are basking in sunshine and rising temperatures. A far cry from the chilly blasts of winter, however, even in this climate, an "alternative ice sports" from Europe is gaining popularity.

The story has an unlikely beginning in 2002 when physical education teacher Chen Xin, then 27, stepped into a Swedish sports club in Shanghai.

The Shanghai International Studies University teacher had felt there was a significant decline in students' enthusiasm for sports and wanted to find out about activities that might appeal to young people.

At the club, Chen witnessed a spirited game — amid towering Swedish athletes, a petite girl held her own, moving about her competitors with fervor and determination and using her small stature swiftly and effectively in defense and offense.

It was Chen's first encounter with floorball, and she found it exhilarating, engaging and, more importantly, safe and easy to grasp.

"That's the sport I'd been searching for," Chen recalls.

Floorball, also known as indoor bandy, is a type of floor hockey with each team consisting of five players and a goalkeeper wielding sticks with plastic netting in place of blades. The ball is also plastic and has holes.

The game was invented in Sweden in the late 1960s and quickly became popular for its minimal equipment and space. By the 1970s, formalized rules were established, signaling the advent of floorball as a competitive sport, increasing its play across the world.

On top of a growing number of fans like sports teacher Chen, floorball is also offering a way for many athletes to focus on an activity that can allow them to train during the spring and summer seasons.

Compared to hockey, floorball is designed to be safer with its lightweight sticks made primarily of carbon material together with hollow plastic balls perforated with holes to reduce injury risks.

The sport requires speed, agility and teamwork.

Convinced of its potential, Chen resolved to introduce and popularize it within the university. The first step was to garner interest among her students.

"Since no one knew about this sport, I wanted to draw students in by associating it with something more familiar. This sport bears similarities to ice hockey, but without skates," Chen says.

"Thus, 'land-based ice hockey' (handi bingqiu) became its name in China."

In February 2018, China unveiled the Olympic Education Program for Primary and Secondary Schools in preparation for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, including plans to introduce nonice variations of winter sports in select southern cities. The move aims to cultivate youth interest in winter sports and facilitate a gradual transition to traditional ice-based activities.

In February 2019, floorball was officially recognized as one of the promotional projects for winter sports leading up to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics by the General Administration of Sport of China.

Lifelong pursuit

With a swift swing, the ball sailed through the air in a graceful arc toward the goal. The goalkeeper sprang into action, successfully deflecting the ball. As the final whistle blew, cheers erupted and players embraced in triumphant celebration.

This marked the inaugural trial game at the Shanghai International Studies University campus in 2008, orchestrated by Chen. Gathering about 200 female students, she aimed to ignite their interest in floorball through direct involvement. As the match concluded, the passion of the competition reverberated through the arena, moving spectators to tears, including Chen herself.

As a pioneer of floorball promotion in China, Chen embarked on a journey from scratch in 2002. Initiating partnerships with sports equipment suppliers, she also extended invitations to foreigners in Shanghai to join floorball games.

"I hosted barbecue dinners with beers for them after their matches on our campus. Their participation progressively enriched the floorball community here," she says.

Years of dedication began to bear fruit in 2008 when Chen secured a sponsorship deal with a Swedish company in Gothenburg, providing necessary gear for students in five universities in China.

In a pivotal development in September 2008, floorball became an elective course in physical education at the Shanghai International Studies University and Chen encouraged more students to try the sport.

"The game was a resounding success. It showcased strong team spirit and a vibrant atmosphere of unity," she says.

From the first game in 2008 at the university, floorball has gained popularity in Shanghai, culminating in a university floorball group venturing abroad to Singapore in 2014 for the 6th World University Championships for Floorball.

"It's a pity that university players often lose interest in floorball after graduation," Chen says. "I believe health is as important as academic and career achievements. My mission is to engage more people in sports activities and empower them for healthy growth, which is my lifelong commitment."

On the ground

In 2013, driven by the desire to instill a lifelong love for sports in the younger generation, Chen established the China Floorball Development Center. The same year, armed with 20 floorball sticks sponsored by a Shanghai nonprofit group, she began on a journey to the Bangzhai Primary School, nestled amid the mountains in Qingzhen of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

"The teachers' average age was above 45 and there was no professional sports teacher or playground," Chen says, referring to the dearth of sports personnel and facilities experienced by many rural schools.

"Some pupils have to walk to school for as long as an hour, and although they get exercise, some principals don't see the need to introduce new sports," she adds.

A trial game was held in front of Bangzhai's school principal, who was deeply moved by the enthusiasm and joy he saw on the children's faces. The young players used their sticks to chase a small plastic ball, transforming the earthen school grounds into a makeshift court, with two flowerpots serving as goalposts.

Bangzhai became the first primary school of its kind to embrace floorball in rural China. In 2016, Chen made a bold decision to depart from the Shanghai International Studies University after 16 years and started the Vikings Floorball Club, with a focus on training youths and coaches in the basics of the sport.

"Many thought I was crazy for leaving a stable teaching job," she says. "But I wanted to do more."

"We've been exploring ways to engage children in physical activity, especially within limited spaces. Floorball fits the bill as it's suitable for all ages and can be played anywhere, including rural China."

Fu Chuguo, a floorball coach at the Kangshengzhuang Center Primary School in Linqing, East China's Shandong province, says,"Floorball is interesting, fast-paced with less physical confrontation, and requires minimal equipment, making it very suitable for pupils as preparation to ice hockey."

Hu Shengyi, a graduate of the school, played both as a winger and defender and was once the star of the team. She attested to the significant improvement in her stamina since joining the sport. Hu has even traveled with her team to Shanghai for U-Series floorball games, competing with youth teams from major cities.

Many rural students now regularly participate in the U-Series floorball matches in Shanghai, providing them with valuable sports training and exposure to competition in cities.

Over the past two decades, Chen has dedicated herself to promoting floorball across the country. According to data from the Shanghai Floorball Association, Chen and her team have conducted training sessions in almost 200 universities and 2,000 primary schools across at least 28 provinces and municipalities, with many of these primary schools located in rural areas.

"I am also from a rural area. Sports completely transformed my life," Chen says.

As a child, Chen battled severe asthma and was often confined to her bed. Her parents sent her to soccer school, hoping that sports could keep her healthy. Most children growing up in Xiapu of East China's Fujian province were enrolled in soccer, a popular sport in the area.

"It was painful at first and I cried a lot in the training base, which was far away from my home," Chen says.

"Sports can give not only good health but also build a brave heart, to face challenges and new things in life," she adds.

Chen then went on to become vice-captain of the Fujian women's soccer team in the 7th National Games in 1993, after which she tried a new sport, taekwondo, and ranked third in an inaugural national-level championship in 1995.

Her luminous career in sports now includes the high point of introducing floorball to students in thousands of schools nationwide.

Time flies, with Chen's identity turning from a young girl playing soccer to strengthen her constitution to a professional athlete, to a university teacher using physical education to help improve others, and now to a promoter of floorball.

"One day, sports will give back to you and tell you everything is possible," she says.

Wu Qiling and Jiang Duo contributed to this story.