A look back at the highlights of 2014 and what we can look forward to on the netball courts in 2015โฆ
2014
It was certainly an action packed year for netball, from grassroots level through to our national team.
Theย Opens Squadย started their competitive year with a trip to Wales for the Northern Cup, which served as valuable preparation for the big competitions they were to face on home soil later in the year.
When theย Mission Foods Asian Netball Championshipsย came to Singapore in September, the final selected team of 12 players were in top form and with the thousands of supporters cheering them on each day at the OCBC Arena; they were able to retain the title after a hard-fought victory over Sri Lanka in the finals.
Two months to recover and regroup, and they were back on court for the ninth edition of theย Nations Cup. The toughest line-up ever took to the courts and Singapore defied the rankings and exceeded expectations by toppling two sides higher ranked (Papua New Guinea and Botswana), and were pipped at the post twice by top seeds and eventual winners Samoa.
Theย Cheers Netball Super Leagueย continues to go from strength to strength with six teams battling hard for the 2014 title. The honour eventually went to Mission Mannas โ their first league title โ after they defeats Blaze Dolphins in the final.
Theย Mission Foods Beach Netball Festivalย proved popular once again with 50 teams taking part in the fun-filled day at Siloso Beach at Sentosa Island. Sparta took the Womenโs Open title, Frenz won the Mixed Category once again, and team โXโ picked up the prize for the Womenโs U23 competition.
Team spirit was high for theย M1 Corporate Challengeย too in November. Teams from forty companies donned their sports shoes and joined in the fun at the Kallang Netball Centre. M1โs senior staff and some Members of Parliament even took time out from their busy schedules to take part in an exhibition match in the middle of the day! At the competitive end of the tournament, Deloitte SG took the title after a final match up against JP Morgan. Singapore Airlines and Keppel finished third and fourth respectively.
Competition was fierce in theย Schools Competitionsย last year. In the National Primary Schools Netball Championships, CHIJ Kellock lifted the titles for both the Junior and Senior divisions. In the National C Division, CHIJ Secondary were victorious; Methodist Girls School took the B Division for the first time; and Raffles Institution topped the A Division.
2015
So what does the year ahead hold for us? Plenty of action and excitement if the netball calendar is anything to go by!!!
Netball Super Leagueย kicks off the busy year on 24th January with a short but intense competition that concludes on 15th February. We will once again welcome six international players to each join one of the teams and this year we welcome a new team to the line-up, namely the Tiger Sharks. Along with reigning champions Mission Mannas, they are one of two selection teams taking part this year.
Theย Mission Foods Beach Netball Festivalย makes its return for this year on Sunday 1st March at Siloso beach. Stay tuned for registration details that will be shared soon and get your friends rounded up for a fun day in the sand.
Theย Schools Competitionsย take over the months of March, April and May with the Division A finals scheduled for May 22nd.
June signals the start of theย SEA Gamesย as netball makes a welcome return to the competition. Singapore will be gunning for Gold but must overcome their toughest opposition and local rivals Malaysia in their title bid. The action begins on May 31st and the finals take place on the 7th June at the OCBC Arena. Get your tickets and cheer on our National Team to glory.
The National Team will head โdown underโ at the start of August to face the top netballing nations at the prestigiousย Netball World Cup, which is being staged in Sydney, Australia from the 7-16th August. Singapore earned their place after their victory at the Mission Foods Asian Netball Championships and will be joined by Sri Lanka in representing the Asian region.
Both teams have been drawn in Pool C, alongside African powerhouses of Malawi and South Africa (5th and 6th in the world respectively) so they have a very tough task ahead. Following the group stages they will move into play offs for final team placingโs.
Back on home soil, mark November 14th in your diaries for theย M1 Corporate Challengeย and if you fancy trying your hand atย Umpiringย then there are plenty of courses on offer too, so check out our website for all the information you need to get started.
To round off what is a very busy year, Netball Singapore will celebrate the 10th edition of theย Nations Cupย from 13th-19th December.
And if thatโs not enough then there are plenty of other events for you to get involved with throughout the year including theย Daisy Tan Carnivalย (14th March),ย Pesta Sukanย (5th September) and theย M1 School Challenge.
If you aspire to be a future national player then theย M1 Talent IDย programme may just help you get there! During the school zonal competitions, local talent scouts will be out in force looking to see who has the potential to represent their country at age group and open level. Give it your best and who knows what you can achieve!
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Wishing you a wonderful year of netball ahead!
