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.