Queens confirmed for Commonwealth Games
World Netball (WN) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have announced the first six teams, including Malawi Queens that will participate in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
A statement from World Netball says Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa and Malawi were officially invited by CGF at the start of this month and all six teams accepted the invitation.
The statement says 12 teams will compete at the games.
Reads the statement in part: “The host nation England and top 5 CGA’s in the WN World Rankings qualified for the event as per their ranking on the 28th of July 2021, one year prior to the start of the Commonwealth Games.
“The teams ranked 7-12 according to the WN World Rankings on 31st January 2022 will be invited in February 2022 to participate at the games.”
World Netball president Liz Nicholl CBE congratulated the six teams in a statement issued yesterday.
She said: “Congratulations to the top six teams in the World Netball World Rankings on securing their place at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“World Netball will continue to work closely with the CGF and the CGA’s on the announcement of the remaining six teams.
“I look forward to seeing all 12 teams compete on this world stage in Birmingham next year and watching the athletes embrace this opportunity to compete at this important multi-sport event.”
On his part, Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin said: “I would like to congratulate the six teams that have secured their spot at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“We are already shaping up for an exciting competition. Netball was one of the highlights of Gold Coast 2018.
“ There is no doubt that we can expect more excitement and entertainment at Birmingham 2022, in front of passionate fans, and we look forward to working closely with World Netball to confirm the six remaining spots for this prestigious event.”
Netball Association of Malawi president Abigail Shariff said they are excited to get Queens’ automatic participation at the event.
She said: “The organisers always come up with different formats and to secure an automatic spot at the games is exciting.
“The team is currently in camp preparing for upcoming international engagements which will overall, are meant to prepare for Commonwealth Games.”
