Spring Worldwide of England to sponsor Indian Netball team

Bangalore, July 20 (UNI) The UK-based Spring Worldwide has come forward to sponsor the Indian netball team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, to be held in New Delhi, Netball Federation of India Secretary General Dr P S Sharma informed today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the company would open its office in New Delhi in September and sponsor preparation of the Indian team till the end of the Games.

Dr Sharma said the Union Sports Ministry had been urged to provide a full-time foreign coach to prepare for the Games. The International Netball Federation had been requested to send 'A' grade coaches from Australia or New Zealand for selection and if everything went well and the Centre agreed, the team might have a foreign coach by September.

He said efforts were on to retain the present coach Champa Gunavardhana of Sri Lanka for an year or till a full time foreign coach was appointed. ''I hope the Ministry will concede the demand,'' he added.

To a question, he said India was yet to make a mark in the international level and Australia and New Zealand occupied the first two positions in world ranking.

''As host country, India will be automatically qualified for the Commonwealth Games. We have to utilise the opportunity to make a mark in the international level and hence our request to the Union Ministry to provide a full time foreign coach to prepare the team,'' he added.

UNI MSP GD AY PM1758