S’pore head to netball semi-finals

SINGAPORE — Defending champions Singapore will meet either Malaysia or Sri Lanka in the semi-finals of the Mission Foods Asian Netball Championship after a 63-28 win over Hong Kong secured them a place in the last four and a step closer to retaining their crown.

Sri Lanka, who lost the 2012 final to Singapore, and Malaysia meet at 5pm today in their final group match to decide who will top Group B and avoid a semi-final meeting on Saturday with Group A winners Singapore, who take on India in their final group match at 7pm.

Speaking after last night’s victory over Hong Kong, which was watched by about 1,800 spectators at the Sports Hub’s OCBC Arena, head coach Ruth Aitken said it did not matter who they meet in the last four.

“To become Asian champions, you need to beat every team you come across. We’ll take it one day at a time, and see who we’ve got and go from there,” said the New Zealander, who led her country to win the 2003 World Championship.

On paper, both Malaysia and Sri Lanka appear closely matched, having won all their Group B matches so far, including last night’s penultimate round of group fixtures where they beat Myanmar 87-20 and Brunei 78-25, respectively. Ranked 20th and 24th in the world respectively, Malaysia and Sri Lanka are Asia’s second- and third-highest ranked sides after world No 18 Singapore.

Singapore captain Lin Qingyi knows the Sri Lankans and Malaysians will be their sternest test at the tournament so far.

“I think whatever comes our way, we will watch them play and try to make sure we have a strategy against both teams because at some point in time, if all goes well, we might be meeting both teams,” she said.

Singapore made a nervous start against Hong Kong that disrupted their rhythm, and the hosts know they cannot afford to make a similar start in the semi-finals against Malaysia or Sri Lanka, two sides with the quality to capitalise on opponents’ errors.

Singapore also need the likes of goal shooter Charmaine Soh to reproduce the form she showed against Hong Kong, where she converted 82 per cent of her shots.

“I was quite nervous (at the start) because this game determined whether we get into the semis.

“I watched a match of the ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Championship), it’s not what I normally do but I decided to watch more experienced players to try to calm myself,” she said. “I was just thinking: Concentrate on my shooting technique, think of nothing else and just shoot.”

Results of last night’s matches:

Group A — India 56 Vietnam 32; Singapore 63 Hong Kong 28

Group B — Malaysia 87 Myanmar 20; Sri Lanka 78 Brunei 25

Today’s matches:

Group A — Japan v Vietnam (3pm); Singapore v India (7pm)

Group B — Taiwan v Myanmar (1pm); Sri Lanka v Malaysia (5pm)

Visit www.netball.org.sg for further details.