Zhanna Skunebych (Tovt) Handball player

  If someone had told me that one day I would write a book, I would have laughed. For a long time, I wondered whether I should even get into this, whether I would be able to handle it, whether it would be useful to the people who read it, and whether I could convey my thoughts clearly. But I decided to try, because without trying, I would never know the result. To be honest, gathering my thoughts in the right order to create a well-structured, easy-to-read book was not easy. So stay tuned — my book about handball, the passion and purpose of my entire life, will be coming soon. Якби мені хтось сказав, що я колись напишу книгу, я б розсміялася. Я довго думала, чи варто мені в це лізти, чи впораюся я з цим, чи принесе це користь людям, які це прочитають, і чи зможу я правильно донести свою думку. Але я вирішила спробувати, тому що, не спробувавши, я ніколи не дізнаюся результату. Чесно кажучи, зібрати свої думки в правильному порядку для створення гарної, легкої для читання книги ...

  On November 16, 2025, I took part in my very first tournament as a coach. To say that I was scared and pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. It was a friendly tournament among girls and boys, where we, as experienced players, served as coaches and referees. I had the honor of coaching the New York Stars team. We played three games, and based on the points earned, my team took first place. We were incredibly happy — it felt as if I was the one playing, not the kids. By the end of the tournament, I was completely exhausted. Our club treated all participants to pizza and soda, and we happily headed home.

  💪 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...