Netball: Vanessa Lee leads new-look Singapore into Asian championships

Singapore netball captain Vanessa Lee, flanked by co-vice captains Nurul Baizura (left) and Charmaine Soh (right). (Photo: Netball Singapore)

Four years after last playing for Singapore, Vanessa Lee has returned to lead the team at the upcoming Asian Netball Championships.

Having made her senior debut in 2002, Lee stepped down on a high after winning the Asian crown in 2012 as she felt “physically tired”.

But she continued to play at club level and the defender’s strong performances with Sneakers Stingray in the Netball Super League (NSL) earlier this year caught the attention of Singapore head coach Ruth Aitken.

The New Zealander asked Lee to consider coming out of retirement, believing that her experience and nous would be a “godsend” to a team that had lost three of their most senior players.

“I didn’t have to talk her into it in the end,” Aitken told Yahoo Singapore. “I just said to her, ‘you’re playing well, why are you not available?’ And she went away, thought about it and said she would like to be.”

Capped 57 times, Lee has seamlessly eased back into the set-up and successfully made the cut for the 12-strong team that will head to Bangkok, Thailand on Friday 29 July.

While she was confident in being selected due to her experience, the 32-year-old was surprised at being handed the captaincy.

“I've always just been a player,” she smiled. “Initially, I was a bit hesitant because I just came back and wanted to [just] focus on playing well.

“But Ruth spoke to me and said she needed someone with experience to lead the team, because it’s a rather young one. So I was like ‘okay, I’ll give it a try!’”

Aitken explained that the decision to make Lee captain was taken after their training tour of Fiji earlier in July, where she showed “special” qualities.

“She’s very measured and inclusive in her approach to people,” she explained. “Especially with the younger ones, she has a way of just helping them grow their confidence; she’s very encouraging and supportive, but not soft at all.

“On court, her tenacity and fighting spirit is fantastic, her work-rate is second to none and she’s just fiercely competitive.”

Vanessa Lee in action for Sneakers Stingrays during the recently-concluded Netball Super League season. (Photo: Netball Singapore)

Measured, tenacious, encouraging

Former captain Micky Lin, one of the trio to step down together with Premila Hirubalan and Chen Huifen, believes the team will excel under the new leadership.

“I think Vanessa is a great choice for the role,” Lin told Yahoo Singapore. “She brings with her a wealth of experience and stability, which I believe the team will benefit greatly from during this time of change. Off the court, she is also a great friend and very approachable.”

Lee has adapted well to her new role so far, noting that the players “don’t need much management” and that she can always depend on guidance from Aitken, and co-vice captains Charmaine Soh and Nurul Baizura.

“They are all responsible [players], so I guess as a captain it’s more of just getting everyone’s heads together… [and] to play together as a team,” said Lee. “We work together, so it’s not just me alone.”

The 12 players who will do battle for Singapore at the Asian netball championships. (Photo: Netball Singapore)

Tough test for Singapore at Asian champs

While Singapore netball has enjoyed success in recent times, winning a second consecutive Asian title in 2014 and following it up with a historic SEA Games triumph last year, it will be a new-look team bidding to retain the crown next month.

Only five players from the 2014 team remain in this side, which includes two uncapped players. Even though Singapore are top seeds, teams like Malaysia and Sri Lanka are more settled. Singapore is likely to have to beat both to emerge victorious.

Aitken is aware of her charges’ lack of experience and does not want to put too much pressure on them.

“They are not defending anything because most of them haven’t been here before,” said the 59-year-old, who oversaw the 2014 triumph as well.

“I think everyone realises that they all need to step up a bit in order to be able to help cover the gap that the experienced players have left.

“The reality is that when your players are not as experienced, things like the big occasion can get the better of them, so that’s still a bit of an unknown [factor] for us.

“We just have to grow through the competition in Thailand… I think it’s the way we are going to have each other’s backs and work together that is going to make a difference for us.”

Singapore netball squad for 2016 Asian championships

Singapore fixtures (SGT)
July 31: Chinese Taipei, 6pm
Aug 1: Thailand, 4pm
Aug 3: Hong Kong, 6pm
Aug 4: Maldives, 6pm
Aug 6: Semi-finals
Aug 7: Finals