We use cookies to tailor your experience and present relevant ads. By clicking “Accept”, you agree that cookies can be placed per our Privacy Policy
ACCEPT
avatar image
Advertisement

Hong Kong Four Nations netball: home team beaten in final, urge more international exposure

  • Coach Grahame Johnston pleased with the experience gained by the city’s players in the women’s Four Nations and men’s Challenge Cup
  • ‘We need more players coming through and pushing those players at the top, so that we’ve got a bigger pool to choose from,’ he adds

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
Hong Kong’s Lo Fung-yee is surrounded by Papua New Guinea players during the final at Kowloon Park Sports Centre. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong netball coach Grahame Johnston lauded the importance of the city hosting international events after the women’s Four Nations and men’s Challenge Cup concluded at Kowloon Park Sports Centre on Saturday.

The hosts’ men stunned Pakistan a day after a landslide loss in a friendly, while the women’s team battled hard before being humbled by a much stronger Papua New Guinea side in their final.

“This is a great event for the Hong Kong teams,” Johnston, head coach of the city’s men’s and women’s teams, said. “We need competition at a higher level and they provided it.

“We’ve had some hard games [over the past few days] and the girls all stepped up. They had trained for six months at high intensity for this, and had trials and learning and everything else before that for another six months, so it’s a good effort.”

Hong Kong players say their final words before the women’s final against Papua New Guinea. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Hong Kong players say their final words before the women’s final against Papua New Guinea. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Johnston, who took the helm in June, said Hong Kong needs a larger base of local players to reach the next level.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2-3x faster
1.1x
220 WPM
Slow
Normal
Fast
1.1x