Lifelong passion for volleyball: winning is not the end-all

Volleyball games are known for their nail-biting intensity – but at a sports centre in Po Lam, a friendly match is being played with non-stop laughter and chatter. In the match, Physiotherapist I Monika Lau of Kowloon Hospital jumps and blocks at the net as she enjoys the sport that has been an important part of her life since her primary school days. Monika has played in numerous tournaments and led the Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) team to eight consecutive Hospital Authority (HA) championships. “Winning isn’t everything,” she says. “It’s more important to pass on the spirit of the game.”

Never give up on a ball that hasn’t hit the ground

Monika comes from a sporting family, as her parents are good at basketball. With an inborn athletic body and talent, Monika participated in competitive track and field events, swimming, and badminton from a young age before switching to volleyball at secondary school, where she found a group of close teammates who trust in each other. The most exciting moment of a volleyball game, Monika reflects, is the split second before the ball lands. “Never give up on a ball that hasn’t hit the ground,” she says. “Rely on your team’s coordination and effort to save the ball at the last moment. It feels great every time we successfully save it.”

Monika’s talent for blocking and quick attacks has made her the key player of the KCC and HA team. She has coached and led the KCC team to eight consecutive HA championships. In cluster competitions, her team would always lose their opening game in the championship, she says. However, their coach would always tell them, “we’ve come this far. Don’t let yourself regret. In the second game, we’ll give it our all.” They would then go on to win and reward extra happiness beyond themselves.

With her parents’ influence, Monika was fiercely competitive and always placed too much emphasis on winning but says she later realised, “the higher you are, the less high you feel.” In her university days, she went to Sichuan for an exchange and played against the volleyball team of an university. Monika and her teammates were overwhelmed by their greater height and physicality but learned not to dwell on results alone. “We were very united in that match and focused on doing our best. Even though the other team was much taller and stronger, we still managed to turn defeat into victory,” she explains. “The experience taught me it’s not a big deal if only one person improves. It’s more important to improve together with those around us and succeed together.”

Being a mom with precision and speed

Monika is now a mother of two children but still retains her passion for volleyball and staying fit. “I have less time and my body hurts more, and I’m not as fast as I used to be, which is a bit disappointing,” she says. “I do my exercises before my children wake up and I’m used to being precise and fast. I even mix the powdered milk and change the diaper for my baby faster than my husband.”

Monika hopes to return to matches soon as epidemic restrictions are lifted. “I hope to compete and exchange with more young players and train talented youngsters. I will also take my children to watch volleyball games as much as possible, so they can learn the importance of perseverance.”

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