Netball player Sarah to fly the flag for Wales (From Penarth Times)

Netball player Sarah to fly the flag for Wales

A VALE netball player has been chosen to represent Wales in the Under 21 World Championship in Miami, Florida.

Sarah Johnson, of Highlight Park, has been playing netball since the age of seven and has progressed through the ranks from Under 17s to the Under 21 Welsh squad.

She plays for Llandaff in Cardiff and is also a member of the Vale and County squad.

The 20-year-old is currently studying at Glamorgan University for a degree in Information Technology. After her studies she wants to train to be a primary school teacher.

The tournament in the United States will be the biggest so far for Sarah, who has played against Jamaica for Wales but not at World Championship level.

She said: "It will be great to play in such a tournament and in front of a lot of people.

"I am looking forward to going there. I get a real buzz from playing in the big matches and this will be even better.

"I really enjoy playing the sport. I like the team aspect.

"I have been to America once before but not Miami, so it will be an experience to go there."

The team has had to raise around 24,000 for the kit, flights and accommodation for the championship.

British netball players do not have a Great Britain team. Players from Wales, England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland have their own teams.

On court Sarah plays goal defence or goalkeeper, and she took part in the Fantasy Netball Festival in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on June 22.

Each Welsh Under 21 player was given a court to preside over and answer questions from some of the 800 players from 33 schools around Wales.

Sarah started playing at Colcot Primary School and continued to play at Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School.

She has been training at University Wales in Cardiff each weekday morning with trained coaches.