By Lorna Campbell
The Singapore squad for the World Youth Netball Championships. Top row (left to right): Seah Yun Zhen, Cheryl Ann Lee (Official), Olivia Chen, Melissa Teo, Shelby Koh, Jocelyn Ng, Nur Athirah. Bottom row (left to right): Nur Aqilah, Parveen Nair, Nicolette Gan, Koh Hin Ann, Tan Shi Ni, Siti Nurshawallah. (Photo courtesy of Lorna Campbell)
Singapore, Wedneday, July 31, 2013 – Netball Singapore announced today the 12 players who have been chosen to represent the country at the World Youth Netball Championships in Glasgow, Scotland from August 22 to 31.
Following the 21 and Under’s third-place finish at the recent Asian Youth Championships in Brunei, the team has had two months of intensive training and match practice under their belts and they are ready to step up another level for this tough challenge that they now face.
The team will be captained by Shelby Koh who co-captained the side in Brunei and has 20 international caps to date.
Koh said: “I am delighted to have been selected as part of the team to play in Glasgow and even more honoured to be captaining the team. We have a tough challenge ahead playing some of the best teams in the world but we have been working hard and are going to give it everything we have. It is a wonderful opportunity for us all and I hope to do Singapore proud as a good captain and player.”
Singapore are the only Asian nation taking part in the 20-team Championship. They open their campaign against Papua New Guinea, followed by England, Barbados and the Republic of Ireland in the preliminary rounds.
Leading the team in this campaign is 21&U coach, Joanne Loo, aided by assistant coach Yeo Mee Hong. Manager Siti Harda and newly appointed national coach and technical director, Ruth Aitken ,will also be attending to support the team.
Loo said: “We have made minimum changes to the team from Brunei, other than those through injury, and we continue to be motivated and focused in achieving our target of a top-16 finish.
“I am confident that with some fine-tunings from where we left off from the Asian Youth, we are on our way to seeing some good netball from the only Asian team participating in the competition.”
Cheryl Ann Lee was co-captain with Shelby at the Asian Youth Championships and had hoped to carry this on to Glasgow. Unfortunately she suffered an injury in their final match which has put her on the sidelines for the next few months and she will now travel with the team to support the players and coaching staff off-court.
Stepping into the role of vice-captain for the first time is Koh Hin Ann who is competing in this competition for the second time, having been part of the team in the Cook Islands back in 2009.
Said Lee: “Participating in the WYNC has been my goal since I was 17 and so to be part of it a second time, makes it even more special and exciting.
“There are many things to look forward to about the tournament! One being going to Glasgow itself, but most importantly, it will be nice to see how my team can step up to the different challenges and to improve with every game. The competition will definitely be a tough one at such a high level, therefore it is exciting to be part of it.”
Singapore 21 & Under Squad
Shelby Koh (Captain)
Koh Hin Ann (Vice Captain)
Olivia Chen
Nicolette Gan
Parveen Nair
Jocelyn Ng
Nur Athirah
Nur Aqilah Afiqah
Seah Yun Zhen
Siti Nurshawallah
Tan Shi Ni
Melissa Teo
Officials: Joanne Loo (Head Coach), Yeo Mee Hong (Asst Coach), Siti Hirda (Manager), Cheryl Ann Lee (Official), Eunice Ee (Physiotherapist)
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