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Jeremy Walker

FIVE Britons, four Australians and one New Zealander will team up for Hong Kong in the third Asian Netball Championship, which starts today at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Sha Tin.

 But the Hong Kong Netball Association, the sport's governing body in the territory, are not prepared to sit back on their laurels and allow the sport to remain a domain of the expatriate community.

 Far from it. In fact the association are implementing a Hong Kong Rugby Union-style development programme to take the game into the local Chinese community - and the early results are very encouraging.

 Association officials are predicting Chinese representation in the Hong Kong squad for the first Asian Youth Championship in India in November 1994, although the World Championship in Birmingham the following year may come a little too early.

 The chairwoman of the association, Anne Tinlin, said around 300 players were registered with the league and a further 2,000 Chinese girls were now playing the game.

 Said Tinlin: ''The association was established in 1979 and has been considered mainly an expatriate sport in Hong Kong until recently.

 ''On returning from the World Championship in Sydney in 1991, the association changed their focus from the elite players and competition to concentrate on a grassroots development programme which would attract young Chinese players into the sport.

 ''Hong Kong have participated in every Asian and World Championship since 1983, with the exception of the World Championship in Glasgow in 1987, and it is encouraging to note that the rankings have improved in each competition.

 ''But in order for this success to continue, we needed to look at broadening the local playing base.

 ''Additional funding from the Sports Development Board in 1992 enabled the association to appoint a part-time development officer to implement a school coaching programme and this has been tremendously successful, with some 2,000 Chinese girls now playing.

 ''Over 3,000 Chinese school children have been introduced to the game in the last 12 months and some of these are already playing in our senior or schools league competition and weekend training programmes.''  Netball officials are also following the lead of the Hong Kong Rugby Union by taking the game to the mainland. This followed a visit by the All Australia Netball Association to China in 1990.

 Two years ago an Asian youth development team was selected in Hong Kong to travel to China on a development exchange visit to foster the sport in both countries. This link has been maintained and strengthened and both the Beijing Institute of Physical Education and the Nanjing Institute of Education were represented at a coaching and umpiring course in Singapore last July.

 Tinlin and national coach Val Eaton agree that the Chinese could add a new dimension to the international game.

 ''The strong parts are their enthusiasm because every group of individuals we have worked with are interested and want to go and play; they are also very fast and agile and their accuracy is very good,'' added Tinlin, who is also president of the Asian Federation of Netball Associations.

 Hong Kong's squad: Jill Aston (captain, Valley DHL), Anne Tinlin (vice-captain, Football Club), Susan Rushton (Football Club), Denise Holland (Valley DHL), Joanne Wood (Valley DHL), Jan Clarke (Black Magic), Mardi Evans (Football Club), Martine Vance (Football Club), Trudi Hollyer (Football Club), Lynley Soloman (Football Club).

 Schedule: Today: 2 pm, opening ceremony; 4.30 pm, Hong Kong v Malaysia; 6.30 pm, Singapore v India. Tomorrow: 4.30 pm, Singapore v Malaysia; 6.30 pm, Sri Lanka v Hong Kong. Tuesday: 4.30 pm, Sri Lanka v Singapore; 6.30 pm, India v Malaysia. Wednesday: 4.30 pm, India v Sri Lanka; 6.30 pm, Hong Kong v Singapore. Thursday: 4.30 pm, Hong Kong v India; 6.30 pm, Sri Lanka v Malaysia.

 After the round-robin series, the teams are placed from one to five for the closing stages of the tournament. Friday: 4.30pm, Match 1, 3rd place v 4th place; 6.30pm, Match 2, 1st place v 2nd place. Saturday: 4.30pm, Match 3, loser of Match 1 v 5th place; 6.30pm, Match 4, winner of Match 1 v loser of Match 2. Sunday: 3pm, final, winner of Match 2 v winner of Match 4.

   ''The weaknesses are their height - but that can be overcome by speed on the ground rather than a more aerial system.''  One of the problems faced by the association is that their league is based at Aberdeen. Plans are in hand, however, to start a development league on Kowloon side next year.



Development scheme aims to net Chinese stars of the future