NETBALL

5 Nations Netball Cup 2007
3-8 September 2007 at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall
Story and pictures by Leslie Tan. © Red Sports/soulbreath pictures

Singapore recently hosted the 5 Nations Netball Cup and emerged victorious. With national teams from Trinidad & Tobago, Canada, Northern Ireland and Sri Lanka participating, it was no mean feat. The national netballers are the current Asian champions after winning the 6th Asian Netball Championships in 2005, an achievement no other national sports team can boast of. Netball, with an estimated 80,000 active social and competitive players, is the number one girls’ sport in Singapore. The next big assignment for the netballers is the World Netball Championship to be held in Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand, 10-17 November 2007. In the meantime, here’s a look back at some of the highlights of the 5 Nations Cup.

5nations509.jpg
Jean Ng, co-captain of the Singapore team (left), hugs her teammates after her team beat Trinidad & Tobago in the final. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations71.jpg
Netball fans cheer their hearts out in the stands for Singapore. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations760.jpg
Premila Hirubalan hugs teammate Charlene Porima after winning the 5 Nations title. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations880.jpg
Pearline Chan (right) and Jean Ng hold aloft the 5 Nations Cup to cheers from the crowd. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations796.jpg
The Singapore netballers sing the national anthem before the start of their final against Trinidad & Tobago. From left to right: Jean Ng, Premila Hirubalan, Vanessa Lee, Charlene Porima, Pearline Chan, Chen Huifen, Li Ling. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations396.jpg
The Northern Ireland girls lit up the courts with their sunny disposition. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations516.jpg
A fan catches a prize thrown up by the players while her friends yells in excitement. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations243.jpg
A couple of fans admire the prize they caught from the stands. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations603.jpg
Tharjini Sivalingam, at 2.06m, was the tallest player at the 5 Nations, and provided a challenge for goalkeepers like Singapore’s Jean Ng. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations325.jpg
Singapore fans yelling to get the attention of the national netballers on court. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations703.jpg
Noleen Lennon (facing camera) hugs teammate Kyla Bowman after the Irish beat Sri Lanka to capture third place. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations484.jpg
Huge crowds lined up to take part in the half-time games. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations520.jpg
Jean Ng chats with a fan who came up for an autograph and a picture. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations797.jpg
Mrs S R Nathan was the guest of honour during the final of the 5 Nations Cup. From left to right: Cyrus Medora, Netball Singapore president Tan Wee Khim, Mrs S R Nathan, Netball Singapore Honorary Secretary Lee Min Li. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations521.jpg
Pearline Chan, co-captain of the Singapore team, poses for a picture with a fan. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations431.jpg
“Don’t worry, I’ll mop her up if she doesn’t move.” Dedicated volunteers made the event a success. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations522.jpg
Excited fans pose for a picture with two netballers, Hong Wei Zhen (left in white t shirt) and Yeo Pei Qin, both 19 years in age. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations523.jpg
Singapore netballer Lin Qingyi obliges with a group picture. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations798.jpg
The formidable Trinidad & Tobago team, ranked 10th in the world, played an astonishingly fast and physical game. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations524.jpg
Singapore netballer Zhang Tingjun poses for a snap. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations529.jpg
Singapore netballer Vanessa Lee signs an autograph. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations961.jpg
Singapore netballer Jeanine Heng (left, in red) belts out a song with Canadians Rebekah Eatmon and Brittany Waters during the post-event party. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

5nations1022.jpg
The girls literally let their hair down after the final and partied together. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

For more 5 Nations stories, please click on the following link:

5 Nations Netball Cup