KAMPALA – The USA registered their first ever win at the World University Netball Championship on Thursday with victory over Singapore. The Americans, losers of all their matches in the first two editions of the biennial competition, took on Singapore after four consecutive losses at this years’ event.
The team captain Amara Mbionwu led her side to their best ever performance. Right from the first whistle, you could see they were not about to lose again as they eventually cruised to a 41-37 victory.
It has been a show of centuries as the top two teams at the championship cruised to Friday’s final as hosts Uganda thrashed Zimbabwe to 104-10 victory and defending champions South Africa beat up on Sri Lanka 133-24.
South Africa and Uganda have fired in over 100 goals per game in eight of their 10 group matches.
The gulf in form was visibly clear right from the opening day and no wonder the fact that the two sides made it to the final didn’t get anyone by surprise
South Africa’s 116-6 win over Sri Lanka and Uganda’s 133-24 defeat also of Sri Lanka are so far the tournament’s biggest results.
The gulf in form has however raised the concern of some authorities.
“There is a huge disparity in form and something should be done,” noted Africa Netball president Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego.
The two nations’ supremacy is exhibited in virtually all aspects of the game. The International Netball Federation rankings probably say it all. While South Africa is Africa’s top nation in the fifth position on the 35 nation table, Uganda is seventh.
Zimbabwe in 13, Singapore at 21 and Sri Lanka at 26 are the only other ranked nations amongst the countries competing in Kampala.
The final between Uganda and South Africa is on at 6pm on Friday.
Day 1 results:
South Africa 117 USA 4
Zimbabwe 44 Sri Lanka 31
Singapore 39 Kenya 38
Uganda 102 USA 16
Day 2 results:
Uganda 105 v Kenya 15
South Africa 116 v Sri Lanka 6
Zimbabwe 40 v USA 28
Uganda 77 v Singapore 19
Day 3 results:
Zimbabwe 28 v Kenya 41
South Africa 92 v Singapore 11
Uganda 133 v Sri Lanka 24
USA 40 v Kenya 44
South Africa 105 v Zimbabwe 12
Day 4 results:
Singapore 37 v USA 41
Sri Lanka 33 v Kenya 62
Uganda 104 v Zimbabwe 10
Singapore 62 v Sri Lanka 37
South Africa 91 v Kenya 7
Day 5 schedule:
08:00: Sri Lanka v USA
10:00: Singapore v Zimbabwe
12:00: South Africa v Uganda
18:00: Finals
20:00: Medal ceremony
