Senior airman doubles as international netball player

Alisi Taka, left, advances on a member of the Singapore Wing during action in the international netball tournament in Singapore Dec. 1-7. What is netball? Think basketball with no backboards, no dribbling and just three seconds to catch and pass the ball. Taka was first introduced to the game in her native country of Fiji. Growing up, she earned several awards and accolades playing the sport. She has even been sought after to play for numerous teams. “I represented my high school for the under 15, 17 and 19 age groups,” she explained. “I was nominated as the team captain for the under 15 and under 17 age groups. When I was 15, I was invited to join the Tailevu Netball Club, similar to a league, which is played for eight months. At this level, I played netball with experienced players, which was tough at times. Being the youngest player on the team, playing against national reps and experienced players, was one of the challenges I had to face. I’ve learned that if you want to be the best in what you do, you have to play against the best, and learning from your mistakes is a basic element.” For additional information about the sport, contact Taka, 228-376-5002, or visit www.usanetball.com.