Flanagan can't wait to help Singapore at netball World Cup
ACS (I) teacher recovers from serious injury and is itching for her World Cup debut
She is well-known for her interceptions and tenacity on court, and shone on home soil in 2013 at the netball Nations Cup, emerging as Singapore's most valuable player.
Defender Olivia Flanagan, who hails from Manchester, England, was singled out as a key player for the Asian Championship at home last year.
Instead, the 33-year-old had to sit on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate injury in February last year.
It didn't derail the Singapore team, though, as they went on to defend their Asian crown.
Eighteen months on, the Anglo-Chinese School (International) teacher is back, stronger than ever, and excited to compete in her first Netball World Cup in Sydney.
"I have worked so hard in the weights room, I had to get more powerful to be able to perform with my injury, so physically I feel stronger than I was before my injury," said Flanagan, earlier this week.
"Knowing that (I am physically stronger) also gave me a psychological boost as well."
The 1.75m-tall player, who plays either as a goalkeeper or goal defender, was selected in the national training squad at the end of the Netball Super League (NSL) season in February.
But, she was not eligible to play for hosts Singapore at the recent South-east Asia Games because only citizens were eligible for the regional competition.
However, Flanagan was available for selection for the World Cup as she has fulfilled the two-year residency rule for non-citizens, and could make her debut tomorrow against Sri Lanka.
DARK PERIODS
There were dark periods during her rehabilitation where she felt she wasn't getting better, but she persevered, determined to feature at the World Cup as it was going to be her first, and likely last appearance at netball's premier event.
"I knew it was going to be a challenge to get into the team because they did so well at the SEA Games," said the Manchester United fan who moved from the Middle East a week after Singapore hosted the last World Championship in 2011.
"It was a big challenge for me to try and prove that I deserve a place on the team, so that made me focused and determined to work really hard."
While Flanagan is itching for a taste of the World Cup, co-vice captain Chen Huifen is a seasoned hand, with 101 caps and two world championships under her belt.
The 30-year-old, who plays as a goal assist or goal shooter, can be likened to German footballer Thomas Mueller, who is nicknamed the "Raumdeuter" or "space investigator", due to the fact he always seems able to find space few others can.
Said Chen: "I usually go to the space; they (my teammates) always say I run a lot, that's because I see the space.
"Sometimes I pull out of the crowd... and players like Premila (Hirubalan) always say I am reliable because I always pop up somehow when nobody is available."
The second of three sisters, Chen picked up netball at the age of 10 from elder sister and former national player Huiyan, and made her Test debut against Papua New Guinea in 2005.
The Northland Secondary School physical education teacher was part of all three Asian Championship-winning squads (2005, 2012, 2014), famously sinking the winning shot in the 48-47 win over Sri Lanka in the 2012 final.
Singapore are huge underdogs in Sydney and will be looking to improve on their 15th-placed finish in 2011.
Said Chen: "In the preliminary round we want to beat Sri Lanka, it's for Asian pride, but after that we will take it one day at a time."
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