SIX countries will slug it out for the fourth edition of the Nations Cup when the netball teams meet in December.
Joining Singapore in the week-long tournament are Canada (ranked 21st), Northern Ireland (19th), Malaysia (20th), Scotland (13th) and first-timers Tanzania who replace the Cook Islands. Tanzania are a relatively unknown entity as they are yet to be given an official world ranking due to a lack of international matches under their belt.
Canada featured in the first two editions of the Nations Cup in 2006 and 2007, while Scotland took part in the inaugural event and Northern Ireland played in the 2007 5 Nations competition. Scotland are expected to provide the toughest challenge for the home nation as they have been improving quickly over the last few years with the appointment of their first full-time coach, Denise Holland, said the Netball Singapore in a statement.
Jill McIntosh, a world renowned coach from Australia, is leading the Singapore team through their Nations Cup campaign. McIntosh, who has been involved with Netball Singapore since 2004, expects the Singapore girls to put in a solid performance for this tournament to be held from Dec 6 to 12.
She said: 'There are a few unknown sides for us to tackle but this is a good challenge and it gives me an opportunity to try different tactics and team formations in a pressure situation on court.'
Netball is the highest female participation sport in Singapore, and with the announcement that Singapore have been chosen to host the 2011 World Netball Championships, Netball Singapore are working hard with event partners and sponsors to ensure the Nations Cup grows each year and can be used as an important stepping stone to the ultimate event in July 2011.
Tickets for the Nations Cup are on sale now from Netball Singapore and the six days of netballing action is set to raise the roof at Toa Payoh Sports Hall as fans get behind the host nation in their bid to lift the Nations Cup trophy for the third occasion.
