At just 30 years old, Tamara Siemieniuk is making history. Not only has she become the first female captain of Poland’s Beach Korfball team, but her leadership has also propelled the squad to secure their place in The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, where Beach Korfball makes its debut. As we count down to The Games in 2025, Tamara Siemieniuk is this week’s athlete featured in Chosen for Chengdu.
Siemieniuk’s connection to korfball runs deep: her mother was a key figure in introducing korfball to Poland, and Tamara picked up the ball at a young age, quickly developing a passion for the mixed-gender team sport. Now, after years of dedication and hard work, she stands at the forefront of Polish korfball’s rise on the international stage.
Tamara Siemieniuk is clear about her team’s goal for The World Games 2025: "We are going for gold in Chengdu."
Tamara, congratulations on qualifying for Chengdu! What are your memories from your previous TWG, in 2017 in Wroclaw?
Thank you! Qualifying for The World Games again is a huge honour, and I’m excited about what’s ahead in Chengdu. Looking back at 2017 in Wroclaw, it was such a special experience for me and for the entire Polish team. Competing in front of our home crowd, feeling the support from the fans, and playing against the best countries brought us incredible energy! One of the most unforgettable moments was taking part in the Opening Ceremony, where we felt united with athletes from different countries, all competing on a global stage. We learned a lot during that tournament and I was really proud to help promote Korfball in Poland through such a massive event.
Please tell a little about your introduction to Korfball and your journey to your position now – Poland women’s team captain since 2019.
My introduction to Korfball is quite special, because my mum was actually one of the few people who started the sport in Poland. So you could say I grew up with Korfball in my life from a very young age. Watching her passion and dedication to the sport had a big influence on me, and it felt natural to get involved myself. Over the years, I worked hard to develop my skills, and overcome mental challenges while being part of the junior national team, and gradually I got more involved in international Korfball. Being named captain in 2019 was a huge moment for me, especially as I think I’m the first woman to captain the Polish national team. It feels like a reward for all the struggles along the way, and it’s an honour to lead this team and continue my mum’s legacy in the sport.
How does training for Korfball fit in with your job and other activities?
Luckily (or maybe not haha), I don’t have a full-time job, and I’ve never had one. Instead, I work in various roles, mostly connected to sport, and I always try to promote Korfball in whatever I do. During the year I have periods when I travel all over Poland, doing sports workshops for kids in schools, and I make sure to introduce Korfball to them as well. It’s a great way to keep the sport growing in Poland. My dream is for Korfball to become an Olympic sport, so I also volunteer with the International Korfball Federation. I am a member of the Beach Korfball Committee and the Athletes’ Committee. My schedule is flexible, which helps me shift priorities easily and balance my Korfball life with other activities. Aside from Korfball, I also regularly play ultimate frisbee and board games with my friends ;)
Beach Korfball is on the TWG programme for the first time in 2025. Are there many differences between Beach Korfball and Indoor Korfball?
Yes, there are some key differences! Beach Korfball is a more fast-paced, condensed version of the game.
It’s played on sand, which makes movement more difficult and requires a different kind of stamina. A Beach Korfball field is twice smaller in size (20x10m), the team is twice smaller in number of players (2 men and 2 women in one team) and there’s a shorter game duration (2x6min). In the beach version we run between two “korfs” (baskets). In indoor Korfball there are also two “korfs”, but the field is divided into two zones and we don’t cross the middle line. Every indoor goal is counted as 1 point. In the beach version there are places where you can score 2 points (corners behind the “korf” and further than half court). The game definitely has a more relaxed atmosphere, but it’s still highly competitive. It’s great that Beach Korfball is being included in The World Games – I am sure it will be exciting for both players and spectators!
With qualification now confirmed, how will you and your team be preparing for the Games next year?
During autumn and winter we’ll continue our regular indoor Korfball training sessions and individual performance training. However, if we’re financially able to participate in one more tournament this year (the World Cup in Bangkok), we will definitely organize a couple of national camps beforehand. Starting in April, we will also train outside on the beach fields. A key part of the plan is to arrange a few friendly matches against some of the top countries and maximize our playing time, to strengthen our teamwork and cohesion. In addition to playing, we’ll analyze previous games and prepare tactically. It’s not just about physical preparation; we also need to be mentally ready for the challenge, the expectations placed on us, and the pressure. The whole team is motivated, and we’ll use every opportunity to improve before Chengdu.
The International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-profit-making international sports organisation recognised and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The IWGA comprises 38 International Member Sports Federations. It administers and promotes The World Games (TWG), a multi-sport event held every four years that features around 35 sports on its programme. The next edition of TWG will be in Chengdu (CHN) from 7-17 August 2025. 5,000 participants from more than 100 countries are expected to take part in this 12th edition. The latest Games were hosted by Birmingham, Alabama (USA).
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