Local netballer Sasha-May Flegler to don the green and gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games

Maria Girgenti

SASHA-MAY Flegler continues to score goals with another massive achievement in her sporting career. Flegler is a former Cassowary Coast local netballer who cut her teeth with Tully and Innisfail District Netball Associations.

Flegler will make her Australian debut in the FAST5 Netball team at the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Flegler, Jada Delaney, and Gemma Hutchings starred in the championship-winning Queensland Under 17 team at the National Netball Championships earlier this year in Northern Territory. The trio gained selection in Netball Australia’s 17/Under team.

Recently, Flegler was among 11 Queensland athletes who attended the 17 Under and 19/Under national pathways squads camp in Canberra.

During the high-performance camp, athletes stepped out of their comfort zone and their limits evaluated, with a significant focus on recovery, nutrition, well-being, and performance preparation.

This group of talented players will wear the green and gold as netball joins the program for the first time.

FAST5 Netball has five players to a side, shorter quarters, power plays, and super shots, which makes for explosive, dynamic and entertaining on-court netball action.

This program makes its Commonwealth Youth Games debut at Trinbago 2023, with competition for the inaugural title expected to be fierce.

Hosts Trinidad and Tobago, along with Australia, England, South Africa, Botswana, Canada, St Vincent and Grenadines and Scotland, will take to the court at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex in Tobago from August 8 - 10.

The Australian team is made up of 17/Under and 19 Under squad members Nicola Barge, Georgie Cleaver, Mia Lavis, Monika Otai (captain), Sasha-May Flegler, Tabitha Packer, Lucy Voyvodic, Gemma Hutchings, Jada Delaney and Clare Wigley.

Elissa Kent, former Australian Fast5 team captain, is the head coach, with Anita Keelan as assistant coach/ team manager and Kandice Goodwin (physiotherapist).

The Commonwealth Youth Games, now in its seventh instalment, is for athletes aged 14 - 18 and runs from August 4 - 11.

Seven sports are featured, which include aquatics (swimming), athletics and para-athletics, cycling (road and track), triathlon, rugby sevens and beach volleyball, played throughout the twin isles of Trinidad and Tobago.