The Republic’s netball squad will receive a boost at the Sept 3-11 Asian Netball Championships (ANC) after stalwart Charmaine Soh confirmed her return to competition after giving birth to her first child in June.
Soh, 32, was selected alongside 11 others for the tournament at the OCBC Arena, organisers announced on Wednesday (Aug 10).
Midfielder Kimberly Lim will also make her first appearance in a major international tournament since tearing her Achilles tendon at the 2019 Nations Cup.
Soh, who plays shooter, is relishing the chance to play in front of a home crowd, which gave her extra motivation to prepare well and be ready for the tournament.
The 32-year-old said: “It’s not often that we get to host major tournaments like the Asian Netball Championships. Experiences like these are so special…
“I’ve missed practising with the team, so it’s been great to be back in training with them. Competing on home soil in front of your friends and family is an experience like no other, and I can’t wait to walk out on court again, this time with a new addition to my family in the audience.”
With 122 and 94 international caps respectively, Soh and Lim are the squad’s most experienced international players.
The squad will be led by co-captains Toh Kai Wei and Khor Ting Fang, with Khor and four others ( Tan Yi Jie, Amandeep Kaur Chahal, Miki Ng and Yew Shu Ning) competing in a major tournament for the first time.
Yew was honoured to be part of the team and is looking forward to earning her first international cap.
The defender, 24, said: “I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere of competing in front of a home crowd. There will be some nerves for sure, but the seniors in the team have been sharing advice on how to handle that and they’ve also been very encouraging.
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