Eager Wales fly in to check out Bukit Jalil

19/07/1997

EUROPEAN netball champions Wales arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to
inspect the facilities for next year's Commonwealth Games and also to play
a few friendlies.
Nevermind that, the Bukit Jalil stadium is still under construction - it
is expected to be completed by the end of next month or early September.
"Twelve countries will participate in the Games and many are keen to
visit Malaysia to get acclimatised and also familiarise themselves with
the Games venue at Bukit Kiara," said Malaysian Netball Association (MNA)
president Norminshah Sabirin said yesterday.
"Barbados and England are also keen to come over and we will make
arrangements for a few friendlies when they arrive."
Wales, Barbados and England are among the seven countries who have
qualified for the Games. The others are Australia, South Africa, New
Zealand and Malaysia by virtue of being hosts.
The other five teams will come through the qualifying rounds, like the
Asia-Oceania qualifying rounds to be held in Singapore on Sept 2-22.
"After that, more teams are expected to visit Malaysia to have a first
hand look at the facilities," said Norminshah.
Wales will play friendlies with the Jaya '98 team (the Malaysian squad
in training for the Commonwealth Games), Kuala Lumpur, Police and the
Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) team.
On Malaysia's preparations for the Games, Norminshah said: "The team is
training at the Bukit Jalil courts under Sabah coach Doresia Lomongkok and
Enid Browne of Trinidad and Tobago.
"Enid came down on July 1 with the help of the National Sports Council
(NSC)."
The Jaya '98 team took part in the recent Malaysia-Singapore series and
finished tops in the Under-21 and Under-17 categories. Singapore won the
Open and Under-19 competitions.
Fixtures - Today: Wales v Jaya '98 (5.0); Tomorrow: Wales v Kuala Lumpur
(5.0); 21 July: Wales v Jaya '98 (5.0); 22 July: Wales v BJSS (5.0); 23
July: Wales v Police (5.0) - All matches at the Bukit Jalil Courts.
(END)