TALL but with good hands for a gangly figure, Netball Singapore hopes that Chen Lili, its tallest player, will develop into a key player.

The newcomer to both the country and the national team, stands at 1.96m - a whopping 23cm above the team average of 1.73m - and weighs 80kg.

Compared to national footballer Aleksandar Duric, who stands at 1.92m, and national basketball player Pathman Matialakan at 2.02m, Chen is no slouch in the height department.

Teammate Li Ling, at 1.88m, is the next tallest player.

The China-born Chen, 20, who arrived in Singapore on June 28, was recruited specially by Netball Singapore (NS), which was looking for a tall defender to counter tall shooters in opposing teams.

National coach Kate Carpenter explained: 'The nature of the international game is such that most teams have one or two shooters who are above 1.90m. The Singapore defenders know the ball is coming in and they know what they need to do.

'But they cannot do anything to stop the lob that goes over the top. To do those jumps continuously is just not that simple. Lili's role is to stop the holding tall shooter. '

Captain Lin Qingyi, who plays in defence, has positive vibes about Chen's inclusion. She said: 'During our matches in the Nations Cup and the Asian Championships, we lost a few games because the shooters were very tall. They kept throwing the ball over us. It made me wish we had a player who could do something. Lili has the capability.'

Vice-captain Pearline Chan feels that having Lili would deter opponents from simply lobbing the ball over.

Last month, Carpenter and Li flew to Heilongjiang, north-east China, to offer Chen the chance to play netball for Singapore.

Said Chen, who had played for China's youth basketball team: 'I wanted to try out netball as I feel that my body shape is not strong enough for basketball, which has plenty of contact. Netball seems more suitable for me.'

When asked why NS did not scout for a player from countries which already play the game, Carpenter replied: 'Success with Li Ling (a China-born player who joined the team in 2005) was a factor. '

The New Zealander said China does not have a national netball team, which made it easier to recruit a player from the country than from an established netballing nation.

Kate added: 'Besides, Lili has the physique of a good international goalkeeper. She is mobile and already has good awareness of space and where the ball is going to go next.'

Away from the netball court, NS has plans to help Chen assimilate into the Singapore way of living. Plans are in the pipeline for her to learn English at the British Council.

Her contract began on July 1 and while NS declined to reveal her salary, a source said it is about $2,300 a month.

Tan Wee Khim, NS' president, said: 'It is early days yet but if Lili becomes a truly exceptional netballer, her presence on court will allow the other players to function more effectively individually and as a team.'

Since arriving, Chen has been training twice a day.

Her first outing is expected to be in the Australian National League, which runs till Sept 12. Singapore's first game is on July 30. This is Singapore's second year in the Australian league.

Despite the expectations heaped on her, she remains undaunted, saying: 'I hope to stay here. I want to give of my best, learn English, get educated and play netball.'

By Kwok Hui Min, The Straits Times
27 July 2010