Asian Netball C’ships: Singapore’s 73–20 win over India sets up semi-final clash with Malaysia

Story by Colin Tung/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

Premila Hirubalan (GD) put in a commanding performance at the back for Singapore, reading the game astutely and making several interceptions. Here, she attempts a block against Sweety (GS) of India. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

OCBC Arena, Thursday, September 11, 2014 — Singapore set up an enticing semi-final clash with Malaysia this Saturday with a 73–20 win in their final group game against third-placed India.

After a win against Hong Kong — Singapore’s main rivals in the group — in their last game and qualification for the semi-finals as group winners virtually secured, Singapore coach Ruth Aitken once again took the chance to give all 12 players a run out. Ang Shi Qi (C), Melissa Teo (GA), Natalie Long (GS), and Nur Aqilah Afiqah Andin (WD), who all sat out the last game, were inserted into the starting seven against India.

With these personnel changes, Singapore started the game tentatively and ended the first quarter 13–9 ahead. It was their slimmest lead entering the second quarter of any of their four group games in the tournament so far, helped not least by confident shooting from Indian Goal Attack Rupinder Kaur and some less-than-ideal preparation heading into the game according to Singapore coach, Ruth Aitken.

“We did take longer to settle than I would like but we’ve made a number of changes. Our preparation was not as good because we watched Malaysia play Sri Lanka (just before Singapore’s match), and we should have just focussed on ourselves, but it was pretty hard not to (watch),” said Ruth, to some chuckles.

Sri Lanka edged Malaysia 66–62 in the Group B top-of-the-table clash. With Singapore emerging Group A winners, the stage is set for the hosts to meet their northern neighbours, Malaysia, in the first of two semi-finals at 3pm on Saturday.

Ruth added: “I’m expecting that traditional Malaysia-Singapore competitiveness to come through on Saturday. I think the crowd will be amazing because they will come out in truckloads. It’s gonna be a very skilful game, very fast. Malaysia play similar [sic] in some ways to us. They’re very quick through the midcourt, they’ve got good shooters and very courageous defenders. I think there’ll be some great match-ups so, yeah, it’s all on!”

Charmaine Soh (GA)’s introduction into the game in the second quarter (in place of Melissa Teo) and her partnership with Natalie Long had helped the team establish a grip on the game after the lacklustre first quarter. The pair made some early baskets to help the team pull away from India 18–9.

Limiting India to only a further four goals, Singapore entered the half-time interval 28–13 up with Premila Hirubalan (GD) performing formidably in Goal Defence, astutely reading the game and making several calculated charges out of defence that saw her making interceptions.

Singapore emerged from half-time with six of their seven starters from their previous game against Hong Kong, with Ruth giving Chen Lili (GK) a rest and shuffling the defence, sending out Ang Shi Qi at Wing Defence, Premila at Goal Keeper, and Qingyi at Goal Defence.

The half-time shuffle also saw Charmaine (GS) and Chen Huifen (GA) resume their partnership, and the duo promptly struck 24 times — a game-high for a quarter — for the team to comfortably enter the fourth quarter with a 52–18 lead.

In the fourth quarter, with Anna Soo seeing a second quarter of action in the Centre position (she also played the second quarter as Centre), Singapore limited India to a measly two goals as they romped to a 73–20 victory, whose exertions the defending champions will have one day to recover from before they seek to repel a familiar yet dangerous rival.

When asked who in the Malaysian team should be given special attention, Ruth hardly missed a beat and said, “I think the shooter, Norashikin (Kamal Zaman), she’s very capable and she works very well with the goal attack, Izyan (Syazana Mohd Wazir). So they’re very experienced in the shooting circle. The advantage I think that Malaysia have is that they have come so strongly through the Sports School programme and their understanding of each other is really high.

“We’ve played them twice this year — once in February, once in July I think — so we do know each other. As I said, it’s just about clarity (of roles), and then recovery, and getting ready to jump out of the blocks nice and early on Saturday.”

Scores by Quarter
1st Quarter: 13–9
2nd Quarter: 15–4 (28–13)
3rd Quarter: 24–5 (52–18)
4th Quarter: 21–2 (73–20)

Singapore Roster
Ang Shi Qi (C), Anna Soo, Charmaine Soh, Chen Huifen, Chen Lili (GK), Kimberly Lim, Lin Qingyi, Melissa Teo (GA), Natalie Long (GS), Nur Aqilah Afiqah Andin (WD), Nurul Baizura (WA, co vice-captain), Premila Hirubalan (GD)

India Roster
Rupinder Kaur (GA, captain), Megha Chaudhary (WA, vice-captain), Indu Kumari (C), Sweety (GS), Renu Rani (WD), Sneha P J (GD), Ruchika, Jaswinder Kaur (GK), Sonali, Vaishali Logeswaran, Tanu Sharma, Sonia Verma

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League Tables (updated as at Friday, September 12)

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