The 2024 Asian Netball Championship was the 13th edition of the Asian Netball Championships, held in India from 18 October to 27 October 2024, with 14 teams taking part for the first time.[1] Singapore won the tournament defeating Sri Lanka with a scoreline 67–64 in a closely fought final to claim their fourth Asian Netball Championship. It is their first Asian title since 2014.[2][3][4]
This tournament was only the second instance in the competition's history where India was given the hosting rights and it was the first Asian Netball Championship to be held in India since 1989.[5] Sri Lanka were the current defending champions of the tournament having triumphed during the 2022 edition defeating Singapore.[5]Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru was approved as the only main venue to host all of the scheduled matches including the knockout stages and the final.[6] The opening ceremony of the competition kickstarted on 17 October 2024.[7] Despite the skirmishes, geopolitical tensions and diplomatic standoff between India and Pakistan, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) allowing the Pakistani national netball team to compete at the 2024 Asian Netball Championship in India.[8][9] Approval for participation of the Pakistan national netball team in the tournament was refused by Indian authorities owing to national security concerns and political turmoil between the two nations.[10]
The tournament format, following a single round-robin phase, the top two teams from each group would set to advance all the way to the semi-finals, while the rest of the teams were slated to compete in final ranking matches to determine placements from fifth to fourteenth. The semis and the initial placement games were scheduled for 26 October 2024, followed by the gold and bronze medal matches, along with final classification contests on 27 October 2024.[11]
Sri Lanka and Malaysia from Group A progressed and advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament after topping their group. Singapore and Hong Kong from Group B advanced to the semi-finals after topping their group.
Singapore dominated the proceedings early in the final after making inroads by gaining an early advantage in the opening quarter by holding the possession during the opening minutes of the first quarter.[4] Singapore's goal shooter Lee Pei Shan, who had towering height of 1.86m held the possession of the ball often finding the net and she contributed 12 goals in the opening quarter, ending up 17–12 in Singapore's favour. Sri Lanka gained momentum in the next two quarters with their leading goal shooter Thishala Algama carried from where she left off by scoring goals and it eventually helped to pile up consecutive 15-11 scores for Sri Lanka to turn the tide and lead Singapore in the second and third quarters of the final with a scoreline of 42–39. At one stage, Sri Lanka were poised to win the final after having gained a significant advantage which forced the match to be stretched for a scoreline of 45–41 with only 10 minutes remaining in regulation time.[4] The turning point of the match came when Sri Lankan shooter Thishala Algama was benched during the latter stages of the final which changed the momentum back in Singapore's favour. Singapore vice-captain Toh Kai Wei began to find her range and mojo, capitalizing on the absence of her opposite number Algama and her scoring prowess literally prompted a slight recovery for Singapore who overcame the deficit to lead Sri Lanka with a scoreline of 52–51 by the barest of all margins in the final few minutes. The match went down to the wire and into overtime as Sri Lanka's Rashmi Perera sent it into the two extra periods. Toh Kai Wei (11 goals) and Amandeep (4 goals) managed to pull things back in Singapore's favour and Singapore edged past Sri Lanka with a scoreline 15–12 in overtime to clinch the 2024 Asian Netball Championship.[4]
In September 2024, Selection Committee of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) announced the 12-member squad for the 2024 Asian Netball Championship. A final selection trial was held at the University of Kelaniya Indoor Stadium to pick the players to represent Sri Lanka at the tournament.[13] The final touring squad and lineup was submitted for Sports Ministry to get prior approval through the National Selection Committee in order to proceed further for the preparation sessions with the squad members ahead of the tournament proper.[13] It was also later reported that there was an administration chaos within Sri Lankan Netball with the advent of Netball Federation of Sri Lanka being dissolved due to power tussles and political interference.[14][15] Due to the dissolving of Netball Federation of Sri Lanka, the organizing of the international matches were hampered for the Sri Lankan players except for national trials.[16]
The Sri Lankan team travelled to India on 15 October 2024, nearly three days prior to the start of the tournament. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya met the Sri Lankan contingent prior to their scheduled departure.[17][18]
Hosts India announced and finalised a 12-member squad.[19] In September 2024, 41st edition of the Indian Netball Nationals was held in Haryana and Rajasthan team secured the silver medal. Pooja Chopra and Laxmi Kanwar who were an integral part of the Rajasthan side were subsequently included in the Indian squad for the 2024 Asian Netball Championship, based on their clinical performances at the Netball Nationals.[20]
Indian authorities denied visa applications of Pakistan national netball players and as a result, Pakistan could not participate in the tournament. It was revealed that Pakistan prepared well ahead of the tournament, but Pakistan was eventually left out of the tournament in India, and the championship draw was also released without the inclusion of Pakistan. Pakistan Netball Federation initially even chose a tentative squad members as well as touring officials and Pakistan Netball Federation submitted applications for Indian visas considering the tentatively selected members prior to their participation at the tournament. It was also reported that according to some sources, there was a possibility and likelihood of picking British-Pakistani athletes who were speculated to be in firm contention for inclusion in the squad.[21]
Maldives
