Sri Lanka topples Singapore to meet Malaysian in 10th Asian Netball final
Sri Lanka created a major upset in the ongoing 10th Asian Senior Netball Championships in Bangkok, Thailand when they toppled reigning champions Singapore 36-30 in the first semi-final yesterday.
Singapore was the reigning champions in 2012 and 2014 in the competitions held in Colombo and Singapore respectively. A close fight was witnessed in the game with Sri Lanka taking the first quarter 10-7; the second quarter at 11-7. Sri Lanka lost the third quarter 6-8 and in the final quarter Sri Lanka edged though at 9-8 with the final score being 36-30 in favour of the Sri Lankans.
This is the third occasions where defending champions Singapore are not featured in an Asian final. In 1985 and 1997 too they failed to be in the finals.
In the other semi-final Malaysia edged out Hong Kong by a solitary goal at 35-34 and will meet Sri Lanka in the final today. Singapore and Hong Kong will play off for the third place.
This is the third time that Sri Lanka and Malaysia are clashing in a final. In 1985 at the first Asian Netball Championships Sri Lanka and Malaysia entered the final and Malaysia emerged champions in the contest held in Kuala Lumpur. In 1997 Sri Lanka and Malaysia confronted each other in the final in Singapore where Sri Lanka were triumphant.
In this year’s competition Sri Lanka received a walk-over from Afghanistan from Group B and in the next game beat Japan 67-14 and Malaysia beat Sri Lanka 38-32 and Sri Lanka beat Brunei 55-20 in first round games. In the semi-finals Sri Lanka beat Singapore 36-30.
Malaysia on the other hand has entered the final round on an unbeaten note. They beat Japan 73-16 and in the second game beat Brunei 63-17 and beat Sri Lanka 38-36. Malaysia received a bye from Afghanistan and in the semi-final edged through to beat Hong Kong 35-34.
Sri Lanka has been champions in these competitions on four occasions. In 1989 in New Delhi Sri Lanka beat Singapore. In 1997 Sri Lanka beat Malaysia. In 2001 Sri Lanka beat Singapore in Colombo and in 2009 Sri Lanka beat Singapore in Malaysia.
According to World Rankings in Netball, Singapore are in 17th place. Malaysia is in 22nd spot and Sri Lanka are in 27th position.
A close fight is expected in the Sri Lanka-Singapore final today.