Testing times ahead: Hong Kong win again at Asian Netball Championship but Singapore now loom large

Robin Manihera’s side beat the Maldives 71-8 on Tuesday in Bangkok to maintain their 100 per cent record in group A, but now the fourth seeds face the two-time defending champions and number one seeds on Wednesday

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Hong Kong’s Victoria Smith defending against the Maldives during the Asian Netball Championships in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday 2, August, 2016. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 6:45pm, 2 Aug 2016Updated: 8:32am, 3 Aug 2016

Hong Kong maintained their 100 per cent record at the Asian Netball Championship with a 71-8 win over the Maldives on Tuesday to hand Robin Manihera’s side the ideal lead into Wednesday’s true test of their title aspirations against two-time defending champions Singapore.

Fourth seeds Hong Kong quickly established their dominance against the Maldives as they looked to follow-up Monday’s 59-11 opening win over Taiwan in group A and raced into a 21-0 lead after the first quarter at the National Stadium in Bangkok.

Hong Kong built their lead to 35-1 at half-time before outscoring the Maldives, who lost 69-19 to Thailand on Sunday, 14-5 in the third quarter.

And after a 22-2 run in the final quarter sealed a second consecutive blow out win, Hong Kong will now face Singapore on Wednesday with the number one seeds also holding a perfect record after their earlier successes over Taiwan and Thailand.

Hong Kong women’s netball at the Asian Championships in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday 2, August, 2016. Photo: SCMP Pictures

“Today’s match was a good opportunity to solidify our combinations and run through strategic systems for our match against Singapore,” said Hong Kong vice-captain and former Scotland international Anna Pinder.