Women from across the kingdom rallied to raise awareness about breast cancer by taking their shot in Bahrain Netball League’s annual tournament.
More than 80 players signed up for the Think Pink tournament held at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC) on Sunday to support the charity champions as well as to kick off netball season, which started yesterday.
“This charity is close to our hearts,” said Jo Reed, the leagues president who has been a member since the 1980s and is also a goal shooter for the BRFC. “Sadly we have team-mates, past and present, which have been personally affected by this disease and we feel passionate about supporting causes that enable research and medical advancements in treating all types of cancer.
“Netball is a sport played widely across the globe and since the league began in Bahrain in 1983, it has provided a platform for both expatriate and national women to be involved in a team sport that builds individual confidence, sportsmanship and camaraderie and aids fitness and well-being.”
For the uninitiated, netball is played on a rectangular court with raised goal rings at each end and features two teams of seven players. The game was derived from early versions of basketball in England in the 1890s. Each team attempts to score goals by passing a ball down the court and shooting it through the goal ring.
The roots on the sport took hold in the kingdom 38 years ago and since then expat clubs have been battling on the courts for glory.
“And although men do play netball, in Bahrain it has always typically been a female-led sport and the committee feels strongly that women of all ages, starting from 14 to 60, and nationalities get the opportunity to be involved in sport and also to support charities that support other women,” added Reed.
The fundraiser featured eight teams of 10 from different ability levels and from the four different clubs within the league including the BRFC, British Club, Dilmun Club and Topshots, hosting 28 matches across three courts. The tournament was conducted in a round robin format with points totalled to decide the winning team of the event. With a point total of 15 each, the Bubblegums and Candy Cane teams came out on top, with the Bubblegums narrowly taking the crown based on goal difference.
More than BD300 was raised and the league committee hopes this will also inspire more women to join the competitive contact sport.
“It was an amazingly positive way to start the season and it was great to get some supporters down to watch our games as well,” said Claudia Harris, Bahrain Netball League’s social secretary who became a member this year and is a centre court player for the BRFC team.
“The league is actually in a very healthy position this season, but, of course, it’s always a case of the more the merrier when it comes to netball on the island. With some clubs subsidising netball league fees and some clubs not requiring membership in order to represent them in the league, everyone who wants to play should have the opportunity to do so.”
This year, the four clubs participating in the league are fielding 15 teams of women between them, which means for the first half of the season everyone plays everyone resulting in 105 matches. Matches are typically played on Tuesday evenings either at the British Club, Dilmun Club or at the BRFC.
“The league is always grateful for the organisations in Bahrain that support our fundraising tournaments for the charities in Bahrain,” added Harris.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, email prsecbenl@gmail.com to join the league.