Sunshine Girls eye gold at World Netball Champs

Marvette Anderson, head coach of the Sunshine Girls, says that Jamaica's senior netballers have set their sights on winning the gold medal this year's World Championships, which will be held in Liverpool, England, from July 12-21.

The Sunshine Girls who moved up from fourth to third in the world rankings last month, will enter this season high on confidence after an outstanding 2018 campaign.

The Jamaicans captured the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in April. They then whitewashed rivals England 3-0 in their home series last September before winning the silver medal at the World Fast5 Championship in October. Jamaica's netballers also defeated New Zealand and Malawi to win the Quad Series last March in New Zealand.

Anderson told The Gleaner that she was expecting another big year from the Sunshine Girls because they had proven that they have what it takes to be the best in the world.

'Full speed ahead'

"It is World Championship year and it means that we will have to go full speed ahead because everything has to be fast, everything has to be hard and everything has to be compact. We have to put in the work. Strength, and conditioning are important," said Anderson.

"I think that reaching number three in the world has really motivated the ladies and they are looking forward to playing in the various competitions this year," she said.

"They want to continue what they started in 2018, and their eyes are on that number- one spot and that gold medal. That is what they are working for," Anderson said.

The Sunshine Girls are scheduled to resume training next Monday after the holiday break. They will, however, be without a number of senior players who will be plying their trade in overseas club leagues.

"Some of our players will be away on overseas contracts, and so we have to manage the ones that are here so that everybody can be on the same page and on the same level come July when they will compete," Anderson pointed out.