Singapore, 7 September 2024
Kenya claimed the 2024 Mirxes Nations Cup title with a commanding performance, defeating the Singapore Vandas 61-33 in the final.
Singapore struggled to break through Kenya’s solid defensive setup in the first quarter, falling behind 9-16. While the Singapore Vandas applied more pressure in the second quarter, they could not close the gap, losing the quarter 11-14.
In the second half, a series of unforced errors and missed opportunities from the Singapore Vandas, coupled with Kenya stepping up their performance, widened the gap to a decisive 18-goal difference. This dominant display allowed Kenya to close out the game with a 61-33 victory.
Reflecting on the win, Kenya head coach Ali Mugisha proudly stated: “It means a lot for Netball Kenya. This is their first achievement in over five years. Being able to be champions internationally is such a great sign of all the hard work they have put in, all the pain and suffering they have been through, all the challenges they have gone through as a nation, as mothers, as young ladies, as a federation.”
Singapore Vandas defender Jamie Lim shared her thoughts on the match: “I thought we had a good start actually, but it’s just the consistency throughout the four quarters that weren’t there today. We wanted to carry on yesterday’s performance and put it out on court today, but Kenya gave us a really good fight. There are definitely improvements from the first game to today. So, it’s okay, we lost. We fought hard, and that’s the main point of the game.”
UAE Clinches Third Spot
United Arab Emirates (UAE) secured third place with a solid 52-46 win over Ireland.
Today’s match wasn’t as close as their earlier thrilling encounter in the week when UAE edged Ireland by just two goals. UAE came out stronger this time, taking an eight-goal lead by halftime. Although Ireland fought back to win the second half, it wasn’t enough to overcome UAE’s early advantage.
Reflecting on the tournament, UAE captain Carly Lewis said: “It’s been a great week. And to finish it like that, I’m just really proud of the efforts the girls have put in. It’s been a really hard week. I think it’s been a mentally challenging week, game after game, and we’ve played some really different teams to what we’re used to. We had our vice-captain go down midweek, and I’m just really proud of how the girls have adapted, and we’ve bounced back, and we’ve come back strong today.”
Singapore A finished fifth after a commanding 61-38 victory over Canada.
The development team dominated from the start, establishing a 17-goal lead by halftime. Despite a stronger performance from Canada in the second half, including edging the final quarter 13-12, Singapore A’s early dominance secured a comfortable win.
Head coach Yeo Mee Hong reflected on the team’s performance this week: “I thought the girls had resilience and good fighting spirit this week.; they never gave up. They kept backing each other. And in terms of skills, I thought they have improved a lot in terms of playing bigger bodies and faster players. So I’m very proud of them.”
Final Scores:
Kenya vs Singapore: 61-33
UAE vs Ireland: 52-46
Singapore vs Canada: 61-38
