The Hindu : Sport : Preeti to lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 21, 2006

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Preeti to lead

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Netball Federation of India named the Indian squad for the fifth Asian youth (under-21) netball championship, which gets underway here on July 24. Star shooter Preeti Banchor of Chhattisgarh will lead the 12-member squad.

India will play the inaugural match against Hong Kong on the opening day. The draw for the tournament, however, will be made after the arrival of all confirmed teams. The event originally had a field of 12 teams, but Korea, China, Chinese Taipei and Japan pulled out as the recent terrorist strike in Mumbai fuelled their fears.

The status of Pakistan also hangs in the balance. According to Dr. P.S. Sharma, secretary general of the International Netball Federation (INF), the Ministry of External Affairs had cleared the Pakistan team, which had reached the Wagah border.

Coaches clinic

Dr. Sharma said that the head of the World Netball Coaches Council Gill Mackintosh is expected to reach here on Friday and will conduct a coaches clinic.

Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, will inaugurate the championship at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium. The organisers have made arrangements for hosting an elaborate cultural pageant to mark the opening ceremony.

The Indian team: Preeti Banchor (captain, Chhattisgarh), H.S. Leela, Divya B. Dasar (both Karnataka), Richa Bhist (Delhi), K.P.R. Monalisa, T. Naga Prasanna, P.P. Parameswari (all AP), Tanuja Bala Jena (Orissa), Latika Mittal (UP), Rita (Haryana), Salam Sonam Devi (Manipur), Sikha Dutta (Assam). Coach: Champa Wanamali Gunawardene. Assistant coaches: Madhubala Devi, Selvaraj.