SINGAPORE - Singapore beat Thailand 59-29 in the semi-final of the SEA Games netball competition on Saturday to set up a mouthwatering clash against rivals Malaysia in the final.
The hosts started strongly, going on a 5-0 run in the first five minutes, but Thailand refused to back down, doggedly going for every ball, as Singapore started to slow down. The first quarter ended with Singapore holding a narrow 11-7 lead.
However, several changes by coach Ruth Aitken brought about an improvement in their play. They outscored Thailand comfortably in the remaining quarters to win the semi-final easily.
Singapore will now face Malaysia, who beat Brunei 79-23 in an earlier semi-final, in Sunday's final, which starts at 2pm at the OCBC Arena Hall 1.
The match will be a repeat of the 2001 SEA Games final in Kuala Lumpur, the last time netball featured at the biennial multi-sport meet. Malaysia won the gold back then.