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.
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
Netball fans cheer their hearts out in the stands for Singapore. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
Premila Hirubalan hugs teammate Charlene Porima after winning the 5 Nations title. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
Pearline Chan (right) and Jean Ng hold aloft the 5 Nations Cup to cheers from the crowd. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
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
The Northern Ireland girls lit up the courts with their sunny disposition. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
A fan catches a prize thrown up by the players while her friends yells in excitement. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
A couple of fans admire the prize they caught from the stands. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
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
Singapore fans yelling to get the attention of the national netballers on court. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
Noleen Lennon (facing camera) hugs teammate Kyla Bowman after the Irish beat Sri Lanka to capture third place. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
Huge crowds lined up to take part in the half-time games. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
Jean Ng chats with a fan who came up for an autograph and a picture. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
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
Pearline Chan, co-captain of the Singapore team, poses for a picture with a fan. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
“Don’t worry, I’ll mop her up if she doesn’t move.” Dedicated volunteers made the event a success. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
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
Singapore netballer Lin Qingyi obliges with a group picture. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
The formidable Trinidad & Tobago team, ranked 10th in the world, played an astonishingly fast and physical game. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
Singapore netballer Zhang Tingjun poses for a snap. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
Singapore netballer Vanessa Lee signs an autograph. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports
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
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:
sri lankan are the best
Sri lankan girls are the best girls in the world we wish our team
In cricket there are no best team like sri lankan it means sri lankan boys are the best
lastly i would say Both are the best of the best in here our mother land (Lord Buddha’s country) Sri lanka May The Triple Gem Bless Us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Min Li, so sorry. I’ll fix it.
Hi Leslie
I think you have put my position wrongly under the caption. I am sitting next to Mrs Nathan due to my position Honarary Secretary of Netball Singapore. My job title is General Manager of the Netball Academy in Singapore Sports School. I don’t coach the SSS team so far.
Umm, also can I have some other pictures of me with Mrs Nathan?
Have a great weekend!
Regards
Min Li