A love of netball brought these women from different age and ethnic groups together.

And together, they formed part of the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru CSC Team A to play in the Community Games 2012 Netball Tournament for the Tanjong Pagar Cluster.

They clinched the title at the cluster-level tournament and will go on to play in the inaugural Singapore National Games in September.

Said Ms Tan Wee Wee, 36, who works in the education sector: "It's a change to exercise and come together with my fellow Singaporeans.

"It feels great."

The Community Games 2012, organised by the People's Association (PA), Singapore Sports Council and Community Sports Clubs, is a multi-sports competition held across the island, connecting residents of different ages, races and living across estates.

Qualifiers

It also serves as the qualifier to the Singapore National Games 2012.

The sports featured in the Community Games are badminton, basketball, bowling, football, netball, sepak takraw and table tennis.

The Singapore National Games 2012 will also see athletics, dragon boating and swimming competitions.

Said Miss Sarah Chu, 19, a student from Millenia Institute: "It's a very different way to get to know your neighbours.

"If we had met as strangers at some community function, it would have been very contrived and awkward.

"But in a netball game, we communicate and forge strong bonds."

Miss Chu's team beat another team from Tanjong Pagar by five goals, with Miss Chu scoring four of them.

She said she attended only two practice sessions before the competition, but didn't have any problems playing well with her teammates.

There were club players and housewives among those who played. Their ages ranged from 18 to the mid-30s.

Said Miss Chu, who was playing the game for the first time: "It's interesting as different players who play different positions don't have the same amount of access to the court.

"The player who plays the centre can run around the entire court, whereas the goal attack has very limited access.

"But the positions aren't fixed and we've learnt to work around it.

"It started out as a leisure activity for me, but has progressed to something much bigger.

"It's a chance to get to know other people in my community and forge bonds with other races."

Ms Tan Jun Yi, PA's head of community sports division, said the aim of the games is to help facilitate community bonding and integration.

She said: "The teams will compete at the cluster-level 1 tournaments for each sport featured under the Community Games 2012.

"The top two teams for each cluster-level tournament will qualify for the Singapore National Games 2012, which will be held at the national level."

The Community Games 2012 was held from April 15 to July 15.

The Singapore National Games 2012 will be from Sept 1 to Sept 9.

Added Ms Tan Wee Wee: "What better way to get to know everyone in your neighbourhood?

"I was a competitive player in school and this just adds a richer layer to my playing experience. I love it."

This article was first published in The New Paper.