SportLink International News
​The latest programmes and plans for future sporting partnerships
2026 Asian Women’s Netball Championships, Hong Kong
Our partners at Netball Hong Kong China are busy preparing for the biennial Asian Woman’s Netball Championships which will be held 7-16 August at the KaiTak Sports Park in Hong Kong. This will be a busy year for the Asian game as many countries will also be competing in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.
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Twelve teams from across Asia and the Indian subcontinent will be competing in Hong Kong. Sri Lanka (the current holders), Singapore and Malaysia have dominated the competition from its inception, forming the top three in every staging other than 1993 when Hong Kong, the hosts, finished top. Maybe home advantage will be key in 2026?
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The big beast missing from Asian netball is, of course, China where, with the support of Netball China Hong Kong, we have been trying to get the game off the ground in schools and colleges in Hebei Province. After training events led by the highly experienced England Colleges Coach Julie Kimberr, we will be taking groups of players from Hebei to the Championships for further inspiration on their netball journey.
At last! Visa-free travel to China
During Sir Keir Starmer’s meeting with President Xi Jinping at the end of January, it was announced that UK citizens will no longer require a visa to visit China. The change came into force on Tuesday 17th February (coinciding with Chinese New Year) and brings the UK into line with 50 other countries, including EU member states. It allows all UK passport holders visa-free entry into China for business, tourism, visiting friends and family, and exchange visits.
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Under the previous system, applicants had to complete a detailed online form and then attend one of the Visa Centres (in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast) to submit supporting documents in hard copy, followed by a second visit to collect the visa. In addition to the time needed to gather the required paperwork and travel to and from the Visa Centre, there was a £130 fee, and during the busy summer months the process could take three to four weeks.
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The new arrangements remove a significant barrier to travelling to China, and will make life a lot simpler for organisations like ours!
Gateshead College Coaches Return To China
We are delighted to confirm that after successful training events in 2024 and 2025, coaches from Gateshead College Netball Academy will return to China at Easter 2026.
Led by the highly experienced England Colleges Coach Julie Kimber, a group of 11 students from the Academy will introduce the game to selected schools and colleges in Hebei Province, as well as returning to previous locations to catch up on their progress.
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This year’s group includes three returnees from 2025 including Sophie Henderson, the Academy’s 1st Team Captain and a rising star in England Colleges National netball squad. Sophie’s Co-Captains are also making the trip.
