Williams on the mend as Netball World Cup nears

Sunshine Girls defender Vangalee Williams, whose Netball World Cup hopes have come under doubt after she injured her ankle during the recent Berger Elite League netball semi-finals, is recovering well from the injury and is expected to feature in the ongoing three-match series against Barbados.

The Sunday Gleaner caught up with Williams, who has been a mainstay in the Sunshine Girls' defence over the last few years, during the first game of the series on Friday at the National Indoor Sports Centre, where she confirmed that her recovery was progressing well and that she was looking to play at least the last game of the series today at G.C. Foster College.

"We are not pressuring the ankle too much, but we are pretty confident that I can play one of the games. I am not sure which one as yet, but I think it could be Sunday (today). And that's where things stand right now," the defender stated

Since picking up the injury, Williams has done most of her training individually, but says this is just a precaution. She insists that she is mentally ready to play.

"I do not train with the regular team. I do training by myself, like going to the gym on a cycle and when I return from the gym, I usually warm up with them (team), and each day I can increase the intensity of the warm-up, so it has been getting better and I am happy for that," she explained.

The series against Barbados is the girls' final warm-up games before they fly to Australia for the Netball World Cup at the end of July. Williams is eager to take the court in this series to prove she is fit and capable of her best.

"If they put me out there on Sunday (today), I know I will be ready because the mind is stronger than the body and when the mind says go, I will be ready to play," she asserted.