Hong Kong Qualifies for Netball World Cup After 24-Year Wait

She went to a school in South Africa where the motto read “ Kyk Ver”, which translated into English means “look far”, but Zanne-Marie Pienaar came to Hong Kong in 2022 thinking short term.

“I thought I’d stay a year then go back, but Hong Kong changed my life,” Pienaar said.

If she has returned to thinking just 12 months ahead, then that is understandable. Pienaar is a colossal figure, both literally and metaphorically, for the Hong Kong women’s team that on Friday thrillingly beat Malaysia in the Asian Netball Championships semi-finals to book their place at the World Cup in Australia next August and September.

Losing the final on Saturday 57-33 to far and away the continent’s best team, Singapore, did nothing to subdue the Hong Kong celebrations over ending a 24-year wait to be back in the global finals.

“This is what we worked for and every sacrifice I made, I would do it all over again with a smile,” Pienaar said.

Recently turned 35, Pienaar began playing netball around the age of nine.