The national netball team enhanced their preparations ahead of their participation in the Asian Netball Championships (ANC) with a morale-boosting 66-52 victory over the Sri Lanka State Services netball team at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday.
The national team, also popularly known as the Royal Bees, showed neat exchanges between wing attack Zuraidah and either of both goal shooter Nurhafizah and goal attack Nur Ady Elzza.
The Sri Lanka-based team threatened to run away with the score-line as goal attack Dulanga demonstrated her strength when they led 9-6 but the Bruneians levelled the tie.
The visitors eventually closed the first-quarter 17-14 but Royal Bees showed their clinical finishing as they successfully overturned the deficit.
The Sri Lanka State Services team are currently in the Sultanate as part of a match series hosted by the Brunei Netball Association (BNA). The match series aims to prepare the national netball team in skill adaptability, mental resilience and overall performance by simulating diverse competitive environments and challenging scenarios.
It also helps strengthen the relationship between Brunei Darussalam and Sri Lanka especially through the sport of netball.
The Royal Bees have been recently boosted with the return of head coach Thilaka Jinadasa, who took over the helm from Nurhafizah who then returned in the playing roster.
The 13-day series features a total of seven friendly matches held at multiple venues including police headquarters stadium, Tutong Sports Complex and Mumong Court as well as a few training sessions across Brunei.
Brunei, who finished sixth in the previous edition in Singapore and are ranked sixth according to Asia Netball, will look to better their ranking.
Prior to the start of the exhibition match, President of BNA Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Hajah Wan Shahlimar binti Haji Suhaili presented tokens of appreciation to partners and sponsors.
Permanent Secretary (Community) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Hajah Nor Ashikin binti Haji Johari; Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Poh Kui Choon; and Director of Youth and Sports Department Hajah Umi Kalthum binti Haji Abdul Karim were present during the event.
The national netball team are scheduled to play their final match against the Sri Lanka State Services team today. – Fadhil Yunus
