By Lerraine Neo (26A01A)

All photographs provided by RIAC unless stated otherwise.

Every athlete dreams of victory. But when you’re part of a team, victory means more than just the medal around your neck. 

On 28 May, RI’s netball team rounded off this year’s NSG season with a final match for the gold against ACJC. But as they stepped out onto the court, winning was far from the only thing on their minds. 

A Hunger to Win

Winning may not have been the team’s only goal, but they certainly had an eye on the gold. Having lost to ACJC by just a single point the previous year, they were coming in with something to prove—and a title to reclaim.

As the stands shook with cheers, athletes from both teams took turns running onto the court and faced each other in two lines. They took a good look at their opponents, shook hands, and the game was on. 

“The team that experienced that loss last year—we came in as seniors this year, and we definitely wanted and hungered for that win this year,” Captain Lim Ruici (25A01E) comments. 

That hunger shone through on the court, with both teams scoring in quick succession just minutes into the game. Neither team could pull away with the lead, keeping the scores tight all the way until the whistle signalled a quarter-game break, with RI leading ACJC 13-8.

And the players weren’t the only ones hungry for a win. Up in the stands, the atmosphere was eclectic. Despite it being the final NSG match of the season, student supporters from both schools were cheering their hearts out. The shouts moved seamlessly from one side of the hall to the other, bouncing across the court in an endless echo. 

Netball games are broken into four quarters, with each quarter lasting about fifteen minutes. Between each period of play, there’s a three- to four-minute break, as well as a longer break at halftime. During the match, the team has one objective: to shoot the ball into the net. 

Though it may sound simple, netball has several rules that set the game apart from similar sports like basketball. Of the seven members on each team, only two are allowed to shoot: the Goal Attack, and the Goal Shooter, who are also the only players allowed in the goal circle. Netball is also a non-contact sport: defenders must stay three feet away from their opponents and aren’t allowed to obstruct their movement or passing attempts. 

With so many restrictions on their movement and interaction, it becomes vital that each and every member of the team plays their role—and plays it well. 

Playing for the team

As the whistle blows to signal the start of the second quarter, Kaska Watkins (25S03I) steps back onto the court. Unlike during swimming NSG, which Kaska also participated in, this time, she isn’t just playing for herself. 

“For swimming, since it is an individual sport, you’re mainly focusing on yourself,” she says Cho. “But in netball, since it’s a team sport, you know the team has your back.” 

The team gets off to a sweeping start, scoring three back-to-back goals as they race up and down the netball court. The ball makes its way between players in a series of fluid passes, never pausing for more than a moment. There’s certainty in their throws, steadfastness in their actions that hint at hours spent playing together—perfecting both their gameplay and confidence in each other.

But that unwavering trust can be a double-edged sword. At times, it can feel more like an unyielding pressure, weighing down every missed shot or fumbled pass.

“In a way, [in swimming] there’s not as much pressure, since if  I mess up, I’m not letting anyone else down,” Kaska reflects. “But in netball, once you’ve messed up – you feel like you let the whole team down.”

Victory beyond winning

A gold medal isn’t the only way to win. For Vice-Captain Regine Lam (25S03G), the team were winners long before the final match. 

“Losing by one point last year—initially, that was the thing driving me. But when NSG season started, my focus shifted from just winning and getting that gold, to helping my teammates grow instead. Because surely you can win a gold medal, but you’d still feel empty inside because your teammates are suffering without an opportunity to perform, to grow. And that was why they joined the CCA in the first place.”

Over the season, she found herself growing alongside her teammates, not just as an athlete, but as a vice-captain. 

During the March holidays this year, the team took a trip to Hong Kong, where they played against local teams who were stronger, taller, and more experienced than they were. 

“You can’t beat raw strength and power,” Regine notes. “But you can beat them through strategy.” 

Throughout the trip, the team realised that winning wasn’t always important. Going up against national and retired national players, they went in not to win, but to learn. 

“I’ve learnt that winning and success [aren’t] always the main answer. What’s more important is learning from your mistakes to become a better player and focusing on your own growth.”

For the love of sport

What makes a better player—or even just a good player? Some may say it’s skill, or the number of titles they’ve won. For Ruici, the most important thing she wants her team to learn is the love of the game. 

“Having our juniors come up and join us—it made us realise that if we kept focusing on the win, we took the joy out of netball,” she comments. Echoing Regine’s sentiment, she emphasises that winning is a goal, not the goal.

As the final quarter of the game commences, that is exactly what they do. A sharp defence from RI blocks ACJC from scoring, and the team follows up with a goal of their own. From there, it’s a slow but steady climb to victory, as the point difference widens with each passing minute. 

With only seven minutes left on the clock, the score stands at RI’s 42 to ACJC’s 32, the point gap stretching to a perfect ten. The energy in the hall has revitalised, with supporters cheering with a sudden vigour. 

As the minutes tick by, ACJC makes a final surge for the gold, scoring eight goals consecutively. But they simply had too much ground to cover and too little time. As the final whistle blew, it is official: RI’s netball team would be leaving with the coveted gold hanging around their necks. 

“Although I didn’t get a medal or anything material, it really does feel like a win for me, too,” Rino Hossain (26S03L), who didn’t make the school team this year, comments. “I really felt part of the team. [Watching them] was really inspirational  and I hope we can continue this streak next year.”

And as the CCA members rush into a celebratory hug, huddling close in the middle of the court, one thing is clear: gold medal or not, they were always going to leave this match victorious.