Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE will get their 2023 Netball World Cup campaign underway with a tie against Australia on July 28.
According to the World Cup Schedule released on Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s second opponents at the World Cup will be Fiji the day after they face Australia. The Gems will then wrap up their pool games with a tie against Tonga.
Zimbabwe are in Group A along with Australia, Tonga, and Fiji for the global showpiece that will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from July 28 to August 6 with 16 teams taking part.
Australia, who were runners-up to New Zealand at the last edition held in England, are currently the highest-ranked team in the world while Tonga are eighth and Fiji 17th globally.
Zimbabwe are ranked number 13.
“It is very exciting to be at this stage of the competition, with all 16 teams confirmed,” said World Netball president Liz Nicholl.
“My congratulations to all the teams that vied for success in the qualifier tournaments.
“It was a joy to see the matches broadcast widely around the world, reaching new audiences, and giving our sport the visibility it deserves.”
The World Cup is held every four years and next year’s edition will mark the first time the tournament will be held in Africa.
Zimbabwe qualified after they finished third at the Africa Netball World Cup Qualifiers held in Pretoria, South Africa last year.
As part of preparations for the World Cup Zimbabwe took part in the Spar Diamond Challenge Cup late last year where they faced Scotland, South Africa’s Proteas and their second-string side, the President’s XII.
The Gems were winless in all their encounters at the competition which they used as part of their fine tuning for the World Cup. — @innocentskizoe
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter