Team managers and competition
officials posing for a photo
after last night's managers
meeting for the 8th Asian Youth
Netball Championship.Picture:
BT/ Syarif Rasani
Brunei will be the first country to host a challenge trophy in the 8th Asian Youth Netball Championship.
This was revealed at the manager's meeting for the competition yesterday where all 10 participating countries gathered to discuss and gather more information on the technical side of the tournament at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
The June 30 to July 7 tournament will feature teams from Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Nepal, Maldives, Thailand, India, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.
The ten teams are divided into a groups of five.
Joining Brunei in Group A are India, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal and Maldives are in a Group B.
The challenge trophy will see the winning team walk away with a trophy that will only be in their possession if they successfully defend their title.
President of the Brunei Netball Association Datin Paduka Hjh Intan Hj Mohd Kassim said that organising such a tournament was difficult with a limited committee before expressing their grattitude for the help from volunteers.
"Even though they don't play netball, we still had their help," said Datin Paduka Hjh Intan.
"Just imagine we have 10 countries here and this is the most that have ever joined.
"The last edition of the tournament was in New Delhi and only six teams participated," she said.
"We hope that many people will come and support us.
"Netball was more for leisure before but now we want it to be competed at the international level," she added.
Members of the public are encouraged to watch and there will be no entry fee.
Eleven umpires from overseas have also travelled to the Sultanate for the games.
Six of them were brought over from Singapore, two from Australia, two from Sri Lanka and the last from Hong Kong.
The three panel (main) umpires will be Vivian De Silva from Singapore, Carol Chan from Hong Kong and Marjory Kenslake from Australia.
All umpires were picked by the Asian Netball Federation.
The opening ceremony for the games will take place today at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas at 9am.
The public can access additional information from the tournament's website at www.asianyouthbrunei.com.
