NETBALL – THE kingdom’s netball national team, nicknamed the Bahrain Gazelles, won four of their first five matches yesterday in the Saudi Netball Festival in Riyadh.
The Gazelles were dominant in their victories. They first outclassed the Al Ahsa AIS 28-0, and then defeated the Jubail Pearls 18-0. They then defeated the Albaha AIS 27-2, and then enjoyed a 13-4 triumph against the Riyadh Blazers.
The kingdom’s representatives then drew 8-all with the Diriyah Falcons in their final game of the day.
The Gazelles are scheduled to return to action today on the concluding day of the competition.
Bahrain’s squad features 10 players, including team captain Rama Salem, vice-captains Khulood Sabah and Martine Timmer-Arends, Jeannine Wessels, Shamsa Thomas, Danet Leite, Dana Jaberi, Bryony Russel, Sandra Le Grange, and Dionne Thurland. They are coached by Jo Reed, while the team manager is Narmeen Yousef and the junior administrator is Zam Zam Al Hejri.
Matches are being played at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in the Saudi Arabian capital.
The Saudi Netball Festival is the first competition for the kingdom’s national team since their historic participation in the 13th Asian Netball Championship in Bengaluru, India, last year. It is also an important part of the squad’s preparations for the Inter-Gulf Netball Championship in April, set to take place in Abu Dhabi.
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