Zhanna Skunebych (Tovt) Handball player

  💪 Chicago Tournament Recap Well, it’s time to sum up our tournament that took place in Chicago from October 24 to 26 between six teams. We finished in third place. Honestly, I was sure we could win this tournament, but we were missing a bit of team chemistry, tactics, and endurance (especially me — I really lacked endurance 😅). It was a tough experience, both mentally and physically. After the first game against Boston, which we won 29–16, I caught myself thinking: do I really need all this again? But when the tournament ended, I was filled with positive emotions. We became much closer with the girls on the team — and that makes me truly happy ❤️ Now it’s time for a new challenge. We have three months to prepare for the next tournament, which will take place in San Francisco, California. I honestly can’t wait! 🔥

  🏆 Michael Lipov Memorial Cup 2025 (Chicago) This week, my teammates and I are heading to Chicago to take part in the Michael Lipov Memorial Cup 2025, which will be held from October 24 to 26! 🇺🇸 We’ve been training hard these past weeks, pushing ourselves at every practice — and now we’re ready to show our best handball! 💪🔥 This tournament means a lot to us because we’ll be representing New York among the strongest teams from all over the U.S. We’ve already booked our flights, reserved our cars and hotel, and we’re almost done packing our bags 😅 — everything’s set for an exciting trip and an unforgettable competition! Huge thanks to everyone who supports us — stay tuned for updates, emotions, and hopefully some great victories! ❤️🤾‍♀️

  🌟 Today I held a training session for very young girls, including two adorable twins in yellow shirts. 💛 I explained to them what handball is and showed them the basics in practice. There was so much joy, energy, and genuine smiles. I always try to spark children’s interest in this sport, because I know how valuable it can be for their future. Who knows — maybe one of them will become a professional player one day. Just like me: I once came to my very first training as a little girl, and nobody could have imagined that I would play this sport professionally… probably except for my coach. 😅 We had a great time together, and I truly believe that for some of these little athletes, this could be the beginning of a big journey in sports. 🏐✨

  Michael Lipov Memorial Cup 2025 — Women Division In the photo, you can see the list of women’s teams already registered to compete in one of the biggest tournaments in the U.S. — the Michael Lipov Memorial Cup 2025 in Chicago. The following teams will participate: Chicago Inter Handball New York Handball Club Boston THC Team Rogue Houston Firehawks San Diego THC I am truly looking forward to this event. It’s a unique opportunity to see so many strong teams in one place, test myself at a high level, and bring real handball excitement to the fans. I feel especially honored and excited to represent the New York Handball Club. Wearing our colors at such a prestigious tournament means a lot to me. Ahead of us are intense games, new experiences, and an incredible competition atmosphere. I believe this journey will be another important step in my sports story. And of course, I sincerely hope to return to New York with a victory 🏆💙.

  Did you use to play handball at school or for a club? NYC Handball Club is doing tryouts and you could be part of the team! Tryouts are happening September 14th (Sunday) at River East Elementary (Harlem). Female players tryouts at 11:30am. Male player tryouts at 9:30am. NYC Handball Team currently has one female team and two male teams. Players are from different parts of the world, so despite getting back into competing and representing NYC in local and national tournaments, you will find a great community.  Practices happen three times a week and are included with annual membership. The fee to join the tryouts is $30 but this will be deducted from year membership ($365) if player is selected to join the Club. This is the link for the registration form. Please feel free to send a message if you need more details: https://www.newyorkcityteamhandball.com/join-the-club?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=68b082cef1ed5b5f2568cdf9&ss_email_id=68b4476be2595c0391c5bc3a...

  A Break That Doesn’t Mean Rest 🏋️‍♀️ After intensive training sessions and tough games, we were given a short break — two weeks off. But I am convinced this is not the time to lie down at home. Brooklyn has plenty of sports grounds where you can train outdoors. That’s why I’m not going to stop — on the contrary, I want to use this pause to become even stronger and show better results when we return to team practices. During this time, a new uniform is being prepared for me — two models: the main black one and the light-blue away one. This motivates me even more to keep working on myself, because I want to step onto the court in new colors fully ready. Ahead are important competitions in Chicago, and I am confident that these additional trainings will help me and the team show our best results. For me, handball is not just a game but a lifestyle. Every minute I dedicate to sports brings me closer to new achievements.