8 reasons why S'poreans should get behind the netball team

Go for Gold!

Tan Xing Qi| June 07, 12:03 PM

It is a revenge 14 years in the making.

The Singapore netball team lost to Malaysia at the 2001 SEA Games and since then, netball has not been included in the Games calendar.

Until now.

Today (June 7, 2pm) our netballers will be looking for revenge against rivals Malaysia at the netball final.

Not that you need any more motivation to get behind the girls but here are 8 reasons why you should be screaming your lungs out for them.

 

1. Singapore's very own Gandalf.

chen lili

chen lili 2

chen lili 3

1.96m Chen Li Li swats balls like flies.

 

2. No Prima donna.

Singapore'>
Captain, Micky Lin with the fansBehind Story of this photo:As usual, the captain will throw the ball to...

Posted by Netball Singapore on Thursday, 4 June 2015

 

Aww...

 

3. Eye candies galore.

Shelby Koh, 20,

Position: C, WA.

shelby koh

 

Captain Micky Lin, 29.

Position: GD, GK, WD

micky lin

 

4. Excellent ROI.

For just $10, fans were treated to many victories:

Singapore 72: Brunei 21;

Singapore 65: Thailand 24;

Singapore 84: Philippines 12, a result which prompted mainstream media to use "thrash".

Singapore 85: Myanmar 20;

Singapore 59; Thailand 29;

The only blemish? The 35-all draw against Malaysia.

 

5. Supreme athletes.

Check out Premila Hirubalan's biceps and deltoids. #badass

Source Source

Look closer and you know it's all about timing for Yasmin Ho.

netball timing Source

 

6. The team sacrificed. A lot.

The girls are part-time players, juggling work, school and netball.

Coach Ruth Aitken told Today: "Taking the MRT after 10pm, then getting up early the next morning to go to work bright-eyed — I certainly realise the commitment these girls preparing for the SEA Games are giving to be part of the squad."

Screen Shot 2015-06-06 at 11.34.59 pm Source: Screenshot from Today.

And did you know the netball team won back-to-back Asian Netball Championships in 2012 and 2014? Not bad for a bunch of part-timers.

 

7. Good mix of experience.

Screen Shot 2015-06-02 at 8.12.20 am

This is how you combine youth exuberance and experience. Are you watching, S-League?

 

8. It's against Malaysia.

28th SEA Games Singapore 2015 - OCBC Arena Hall 1, Singapore - 02/06/15  Netball - Singapore v Malaysia - Preliminary Round -  Singapore's Premila Hirubalan (R) in action with Malaysia's Izyan Syazana Mohd Wazir ar SEAGAMES28 TEAMSINGAPORE Mandatory Credit: Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee / Action Images via Reuters Source: Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee / Action Images via Reuters

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If this is not motivation, we don't know what is.

 

Top photo by Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee / Action Images via Reuters.

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