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Singapore's Netball squad which is bound for the 2023 World Cup in South Africa. Photo Credit : Netball Singapore
The Netball World Cup 2023 (NWC2023) in Cape Town, South Africa will take place from 28th July-6th August, and will be the first to take place on the continent on Africa. 16 teams will be battling it out across the 10 days, in netball’s most prestigious event. Team Singapore, together with Asian champions Sri Lanka, are the only 2 nations representing the continent. The Republic has been grouped with defending champions New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda in the 1st stage of the preliminaries.
With half of the 15-member squad aged 23 and below, it's the youngest squad to be assembled by Netball Singapore, as they look set to feature in the 60th anniversary of the World Cup. Meanwhile, ActiveSG Circle caught up with Singapore's national coach and two players who will be featuring in the 16th edition of the quadrennial event.
Team Singapore's Head Coach, Annette Bishop. Photo Credit : Team Singapore
Annette Bishop (Head Coach, Team Singapore)
Q : It’s the final stretch to the start of the Netball World Cup in South Africa. How are you feeling?
Coach Annette : It is trying to not over think, making sure that the final trainings are of quality, whilst meeting the areas highlighted as a squad since our return from the tour in Johannesburg.
Q : The National Team didn’t get to compete at the SEA Games in Cambodia, due to the exclusion of the sport. Thus, have our players competed/trained overseas in 2023?
Coach Annette : The squad had the opportunity to compete in the PacificAus Series held in Queensland Australia early this year, playing up against strong competition, Tonga, Zambia, Kenya, Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.
In addition, the World Cup Squad has recently returned from a training tour to Johannesburg, which included games against two of the top South African Super League teams, men’s teams and a U23 team.
Q : What are you focused on, in terms of prep work with the squad in the final runup to your 1st match against Uganda on 28 July?
Coach Annette : The focus is and has been to ensure that not only as a squad but individually, they are physically and mentally prepared in these final stages. It has been working through potential scenarios, decision-making under pressure, being disciplined with ball in hand.
What are you hoping to achieve with the Team in CapeTown?
Coach Annette : For the team to exceed expectations, improving on the last World Cup finishing of 16th.
Q : What’s next for Team Singapore after their World Cup campaign?
Coach Annette : There will be a short 2-week break for players just to recharge and take a break from the game to refresh. And on their return, it will be preparations for Nations Cup to be held 22-October here in Singapore.
Kimberly Lim has represented TeamSG in 112 international matches. Photo Credit : Netball Singapore
Kimberly Lim (Netball, Team Singapore)
Number of Years in Team Singapore: 9
Number of Years playing Netball: 19
Current Age: 29
Playing Position: WA/C
Won any Key medals, titles:
SEA Games (2015 gold, 2017 silver)
Asian Championships (2014 gold, 2016/18/22 silver)
Q : We are fast approaching the 2023 Netball World Cup. What’s going through your mind now?
Kimberly : It’ll be the 3rd campaign for me. Really excited and honored and just can’t wait to get onto the court with the girls!
Q : Can you take us through your team’s training preparations?
Kimberly : We are following the same schedule that we’ve had – 2 times gym, 3 times court work and 2 self-directed conditioning sessions. We know that we're going up against bigger bodies, so such training will prep us to hold strong on court.
Kimberly : No, we understand that netball is not represented in every SEA Games hosting-country, so the opportunity to compete in that competition is not always guaranteed. Furthermore, we have a full program for this year and are fully focused in our preparation for those tournaments.
Q : 10 years with the national squad – can you describe the chemistry and camaraderie of the current team?Kimberly : How time flies… I came in as one of the youngest in the squad and all of a sudden roles have reversed. One key thing in our masterplan as a team was “One big family” and that includes not just players, but the management team and support staff as well. And that’s exactly what it is – connections have grown on and off court and you feel really supported as a player and person.
Q : Of your 3 group opponents at the World Cup, you’ll be facing powerhouses New Zealand. Having faced them before, can you describe their gameplay or strategy?
Kimberly : They play a very disciplined style and use their bodies (especially against us) really well to create space for each player.
Kimberly : Amandeep Kaur who typically plays GS/GA. She works silently in the background to create space for herself and team mates on the court. While she might be seen as a “new” player to World Cup, her calmness and composure from the back really puts the team at ease.
23 year old Amandeep Kaur, will be making her World Cup debut in South Africa. Photo Credit : Netball Singapore
Q : What are you hoping to achieve at the World Cup?
Kimberly : Collectively as a team, we are looking to make an impact at the World Cup and improve our ranking from the previous editions.
Kimberly : The team has grown and improved over the years. We will be looking to take the experience and learning we gain from the World Cup into the rest of our competitions.
Q : What is your Pre-Game ritual (if any)?
Kimberly : I like to play some slow songs on the way to the game venue and through my activation exercises.
29 year old Kimberly is embarking on her 3rd World Cup campaign. Photo Credit : Netball Singapore
Q : Do you have a favourite go-to song before the start of a game?
Kimberly : "Unstoppable" by Sia.
Q : Do you have a pre-game meal, snack or drink before a game?
Kimberly : Not really, but I prefer something light and don’t really like to have carbs too close to the game.
Kimberly : Kimberlee Green. Her explosiveness and smarts.
Q : Do you have a favourite personal memento/souvenir from your 19 years in Netball?Kimberly : Not really – I value the memories more over physical objects.
25 year old Yew Shu Ning, will also be making her World Cup debut in South Africa. Photo Credit : Netball Singapore
Yew Shu Ning (Netball, Team Singapore)
Number of Years in Team Singapore: 3
Number of Years playing Netball: 12
Current Age: 25
Playing Position: GD, WD
Won any Key medals, titles:
2nd at Asian Netball Championships 2022
3rd at Nations Cup 2022
1st at Deloitte Netball Super League 2022, 2023
National School Games achievements: 2nd for A Div 2015
Q : Having won the Netball Super League a few months ago and for the 2nd straight year, how would you describe 2023 for you personally?
Shu Ning : I think it was a great start to the year. The team and I did not expect to retain the title, as we had lost to our main rivals twice, before facing them in the finals. I felt that we improved both as a team and individually, and am thankful for the opportunity to play for Blaze and grow throughout the tournament.
Q : We are fast approaching the 2023 Netball World Cup. What’s going through your mind now?
Shu Ning : As this is my first World Cup campaign, I am filled with excitement and gratitude for the chance to stand on the world stage alongside incredibly talented athletes from across the globe. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase our skills and represent our country with pride. After countless hours of training and the sacrifices made by myself and my teammates, this opportunity is even more meaningful, and I hope that we will make the best of it.
Q : Take us through your team’s training preparations?
Shu Ning : We train 7 times a week, which includes three court training sessions, two gym sessions, and two conditioning runs. Court trainings typically last around three hours, while gym sessions usually take about two hours. Conditioning runs are a bit shorter, lasting around one hour.
Shu Ning : I've been in the national programme, since 17 in National U19s and then at 20 in U21s. Upon graduating from the youth national programme, I was called up to join the Opens squad in 2021.
Q : How will you describe Coach Annette’s training style, as she’s been with the team since 2019?Shu Ning : I think Coach Annette places great emphasis on various aspects of our preparation, specifically physical training, mastering the basics, and executing game plans effectively. She dedicates ample time to refining our skills, such as passing, shooting, footwork, and defensive techniques, splitting us into our units to focus on the specific demands of each unit.
Q : Of your 3 group opponents at the World Cup, you’ll be facing Trinidad and Tobago. Can you describe their gameplay or strategy?Shu Ning : I think Trinidad and Tobago players display exceptional athleticism, utilizing their speed and agility to swiftly manoeuvre across the court. Their ability to change direction quickly and react to opponents' movements allows them to maintain control and create scoring opportunities.
Q : If there’s 1 player to look out for in Team Singapore, who would that be and why?Shu Ning : For me, it would be Aqilah Andin. She just recently returned after giving birth and has become an indispensable player of team, bring a wealth of experience both on and off court with 86 international caps. She’s amazing both in defence and attack and is especially good at reading the game and positioning herself effectively for interceptions.
Capped 86 times, Aqilah Andin will feature in her 1st World Cup campaign since becoming a 1st-time mother in 2022. Photo Credit : Netball Singapore
Q : What are you hoping to achieve at the World Cup?
Shu Ning : I hope to achieve success as a team, aiming for victories, by working together, supporting each other, and executing our game plans effectively. I also hope to improve and refine my skills and learn from competing against high-caliber opponents. I believe that participating in the World Cup will allow me to gain valuable experience that can contribute to my development as an athlete.
Shu Ning : The next competition after the World Cup will be the Nations Cup, and I hope that we can improve our gameplay to surpass our previous result of 3rd place.
Q : What is your Pre-Game ritual (if any)?
Shu Ning : I like to listen to uplifting songs and watch my favourite netball players’ highlight reel, to inspire me.
After a stellar start to her 2023 season, Yew Shu Ning's looking to excel in South Africa for TeamSG. Photo Credit : Netball Singapore
Q : Do you have a favourite go-to song before the start of a game?
Shu Ning : I have a few go-to songs, and I put them in a Spotify playlist. One of them is “Let Me Show You” by N.Flying, a Korean band.
Shu Ning : I like to have a sweet, so that I can have something to chew on.
Q : Your favourite Netball Player in the world and why?Shu Ning : Karla Pretorius. I admire her ability to read the game, anticipate opponents' moves, and make split-second decisions to effectively support her team's defensive efforts. Her tactical awareness allows her to position herself strategically and contribute to turnovers and defensive plays.
