12 April 2001

OPALS TRAINING CAMP SET FOR ADELAIDE

Basketball Australia today announced that the Australian Opals will hold a training camp in Adelaide between 20-24 April. The Opals will also play the Japanese national team in a four times in a series of training games during the camp.

The camp will be used as preparation for the East Asian Games. The Opals will take part in the East Asian Games for the first time this May in what will be their first major hit out since winning the silver medal at the Sydney Olympics.

Eighteen players will attend the camp, including Narelle Fletcher of the Perth Breakers, who has been added to the train on squad by the Opals’ selection panel. Players attending the training camps are:

• Suzy Batkovic
• Carla Boyd
• Tracey Braithwaite
• Michelle Brogan
• Allie Douglas
• Narelle Fletcher
• Natalie Hughes
• Jae Kingi
• Emily McInerny
• Alison O’Dwyer
• Natalie Porter
• Eleanor Sharp
• Deanna Smith
• Belinda Snell
• Rachael Sporn
• Gina Stevens
• Penny Taylor
• Kristen Veal

Opals’ head coach Jan Stirling is looking forward to her first training camp, one that will feature some of Australia’s elite emerging talent.

"The focus for this camp has been on emerging players within the Opals’ squad," Stirling said. "We have focussed on those players that will be available for the East Asian Games, and at the same time some senior players who are based in Adelaide will provide invaluable experience for the young group throughout the camp."

A number of senior Opals are unavailable as they fulfill overseas commitments.