Charmaine Soh returns to the fold after a year out due to injury, as tickets go on sale for the 22-28 October event
PHOTO: NETBALL SINGAPORE
Singapore, 12 September 2023 – The Mirxes Nations Cup is set to make its highly-anticipated return to the OCBC Arena from 22 to 28 October 2023. Supporters can look forward to catching Team Singapore in action again, including fan favourite and Singapore’s most-capped player Charmaine Soh, following a year out due to injury.
The Singapore Opens team participating in the 2023 Mirxes Nations Cup remains largely unchanged from the team that competed in July’s Netball World Cup, except for the notable return of shooters Charmaine Soh and Lee Pei Shan. At this year’s Netball World Cup, the team placed 15th and secured victories against Sri Lanka twice – the first time the Singapore national team has recorded wins against the Asian Champions since 2015.
Soh is an iconic figure in Singapore’s netball history, having been a stalwart in the national team since making her international debut in 2011 at the Netball World Cup in Singapore against Jamaica. Over the years, the 33-year-old has achieved numerous milestones for Singapore, being part of the winning team at the 2012 and 2014 Asian Netball Championships and the 2015 SEA Games. Soh, who currently has 123 caps, also serves as a World Netball Athlete Ambassador for Asia.
Upon her selection to compete in the Mirxes Nations Cup, Soh expressed her gratitude and said: “It’s always an honour to represent Singapore, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to do so again. Overcoming a serious injury has been challenging, and I’m extremely grateful to all who have supported me during my recovery. I can’t wait to compete in front of the fans, friends and family again and contribute to the team’s success at the Mirxes Nations Cup.”
Featuring a round-robin format, six teams from around the world will vie for the Mirxes Nations Cup trophy. The lineup includes top-ranked teams, namely Sri Lanka (15), Cook Islands (20), Papua New Guinea (39), Canada (unranked), and Singapore’s very own Opens (28) and A teams.
The Singapore Opens team, under the leadership of national coach Annette Bishop, is poised to face established opponents during the tournament, and stated: “The team had a strong showing at the Netball World Cup earlier this year, and we’re determined to build on that momentum. While our team remains largely unchanged, the return of Charmaine brings a wealth of experience, while Pei Shan, with her height and strength, will provide a different challenge to opposing defenders. Together, Pei Shan and Charmaine offer unique strengths and we will continue to build on our strong showing this year as a team.”
PHOTO: NETBALL SINGAPORE
The Singapore A Team, Netball Singapore’s developmental squad, is set to feature in the Nations Cup once again, building on their introduction to the competition last year. Established in 2020, the Singapore A Team predominantly comprises players aged 23 and under. It also includes Opens players who may not regularly secure court time or are returning to the national setup after a hiatus from competitive action. The inclusion of the Singapore A Team in the Mirxes Nations Cup adds depth to the competition and serves as a crucial bridge for emerging talents to gain invaluable experience, bolstering the overall strength of the national team and nurturing the future of netball in the country.
One notable success story from the Singapore A Team is Aqilah Andin, who made her return to competitive netball, representing and captaining the Singapore A Team at the 2022 Nations Cup after giving birth in July last year.
Andin, who will be part of the Opens team at the Mirxes Nations Cup, reflected on her experience: “I have cherished memories of competing at last year’s Nations Cup, especially because I had my son Qaif in the stands watching me play. Being part of the Singapore A Team last year significantly aided my exposure to competitive netball against top-notch teams again after almost being out for some time. This experience was pivotal in my journey back to the Opens team and paved the way for me to play in top competitions such as this year’s Netball World Cup.”
Mirxes, the title sponsor for the 2023 and 2024 Mirxes Nations Cup, has expressed its support.
“Mirxes is honoured to be the title sponsor for the 2023 and 2024 Nations Cup. Through this sponsorship, we aim to amplify the message of preventive health, using sports as a powerful platform to inspire positive change,” said Mr. Teo Cher Hwa, Senior Vice President, Health Innovation Delivery, Mirxes.
The Mirxes Nations Cup is scheduled to take place from 22 to 28 October 2023 at the OCBC Arena. Tickets are now available for purchase through Ticketmaster.
For more information on the Mirxes Nations Cup, follow Netball Singapore (@netballsingapore) on social media for the latest updates.
Singapore Opens Team
Toh Kai Wei (Co-Captain)
Khor Ting Fang (Co-Captain)
Aqilah Andin (Vice Captain)
Charmaine Soh
Lee Pei Shan
Amandeep Kaur
Angelina Lim
Tan Yi Jie
Rachel Ling
Kimberly Lim
Jamie Lim
Reena Divya
Reserves
Goh Wei Ping
K. Mishalenee
Singapore A Team
Goh Wei Ping
Priscilla Wong
Rebecca Leong
Sherlyn Yip
Zulfa Rashad
Laura Low
Matilda Su-Yin Narayan
Miki Ng
Faith Lawrence
Norah Paul Gabriel
Shannon Tan
K. Mishalenee
Training Partners
Jenine Ang
Uzma Rashad