SINGAPORE, 7 August 2018 – Netball Singapore today announced the official team of 12 who will don the national colours for the M1 Asian Netball Championships (M1 ANC) at the Singapore Sports Hub, 1-9 September 2018.

Following the team’s nine-day New Zealand training tour in July along with practice matches against Singapore’s top clubs at the Anbros National League, National Coach Natalie Milicich has narrowed the squad of 17 down to 12, and is confident the team will get the job done at the M1 ANC.

“The training tour in New Zealand not only gave me the opportunity to see how our players matched up against taller, stronger- bodied netballers, but also test their ability to handle the pressure of higher-intensity matches. These factors, in addition to sticking to the game plan, will be key to success at the M1 ANC which is set to be the most competitive edition of the tournament, and I believe that this team has the calibre to secure a top-two finish at the tournament,” said Milicich.

From veterans with over 90 caps under their belt, to fresh faces as young as 18, the M1 ANC Singapore team is a good combination of experience and youth, which will once again be led by captain Vanessa Lee and co-vice captains Nurul Baizura and Charmaine Soh. For both Lee and Soh, who have 91 and 92 caps respectively, they’ll be hoping to lead Singapore to victory, while adding more caps to their stellar careers to join Singapore’s five other netball centurions, including Nurul.

Lee remarked: “It’s an honour to be chosen to represent Singapore once again, and even more so to lead this great group of girls. We’re committed to giving our all for a strong tournament and we’ll be working extra hard to make Singapore proud!”

One of the five players who will be making their first appearance at the M1 ANC is 18-year-old Lee Pei Shan. After impressing in both the M1 Netball Super League (NSL) earlier this year and in both the recent training tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the 1.86m shooter enters the team offering Singapore a different style of play in the shooting circle with her dominant presence.

On making the final team, Pei Shan delightedly said, “It’s been a whirlwind journey since winning the 2017 Asian Youth Championship to playing in the same team with so many players I admire. It’s all a bit surreal but I’m soaking it up and just trying to take it in my stride as I am really honoured and excited to be representing my country at the M1 ANC.”

Also included in the final 12 is 22-year-old Goal Shooter Tan Xin Yi, who was one of the most impressive shooters throughout the NSL, both in terms of volume and shooting percentage, while 19-year-old Ayshath Zaseela has been included in midcourt.

Both have impressed selectors recently during practice matches in the Anbros National League and also during team trainings, thus earning their spot in the team and will look to earn their very first caps for Singapore during the tournament.

For the first time since the tournament’s inception in 1985, there will be a total of 12 teams competing for the trophy at the M1 ANC. Don’t miss catching all the action from top trophy contenders Singapore and Malaysia – who were the 2017 Southeast Asian Games Gold Medalists – and Sri Lanka – who have won the most number of Asian Netball Championship titles (4). Also participating in the tournament are Hong Kong, India, Japan, Maldives, Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines and Brunei.

Singapore last hosted and won the Asian Netball Championships in 2014 and are hoping to do it again, so come cheer our girls to victory at the Singapore Sports Hub from 1-9 September.

Prices for day passes to the M1 ANC start from $2 (children aged 5 to 12) to $6 (adult) for the Preliminary Round and range from $6 (children aged 5 to 12) to $20 (adult) for a Finals ticket.

For more information on the M1 ANC 2018, visit www.netball.org.sg and to purchase tickets, please visit bit.ly/M1ANC2018Tickets.