In a significant development for Caribbean sports, Barbados has been confirmed as the new host nation for the Americas Netball Regional Qualifier scheduled for October 19-26. The event will determine which teams advance to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
The hosting rights were transferred to Barbados after St. Vincent and the Grenadines proved unable to fulfil their organizational commitments. Barbados Netball Association (BNA) President Nisha Craigwell expressed particular pride in her organization’s readiness to assume this prestigious role on relatively short notice.
“We’re thrilled to host the Qualifier because it represents an exceptional opportunity to showcase elite netball within our nation,” Craigwell told Barbados TODAY. “This event allows spectators unaccustomed to regional-level competition to witness high-caliber play while simultaneously providing invaluable exposure for our emerging athletes and officials.”
The tournament will feature approximately ten national teams from across the Americas, with participants potentially ranging from Argentina to Canada. The host team, known as the Bajan Gems, anticipates fierce competition despite already implementing rigorous preparatory measures.
Craigwell confirmed that selected squad members have maintained intensive training regimens while balancing other international commitments. “The Bajan Gems are working diligently toward this objective, though they will first compete at the CAC Games in the Dominican Republic from July 24 to August 8,” she disclosed.
Barbadian athletes will benefit from unprecedented infrastructure advancements, including two state-of-the-art indoor facilities scheduled for completion later this year at Waterford. These venues will complement the recently upgraded Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, which features a new competition-grade floor.
Craigwell expressed optimism about leveraging these facilities for the domestic season, stating: “We anticipate both the gymnasium and Netball Stadium being operational by late April. Should any delays occur, we’ll revert to community venues while remaining eager to launch our competitions.”
Despite finishing 14th at the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa, Barbados approaches the qualifiers with renewed confidence. Craigwell highlighted the team’s strategic development pipeline: “Our current trial combinations show tremendous promise. While player transition is inevitable, our robust development program ensures capable replacements emerge seamlessly.”
Concurrently, Barbados’s Under-16 squad is preparing for the 22nd Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament in Trinidad (April 10-18). After securing second place in the 2023 home tournament, the team aims to reclaim the regional title this year.