Game on for reborn basketballer Belinda Snell thanks to second chance
A SECOND Commonwealth Games gold could finally tip Belinda Snell into retirement but the born-again Opal says there is still a chance she will put her hand up for one last international hurrah.
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A SECOND Commonwealth Games gold could finally tip Belinda Snell into retirement but the born-again Opal says there is still a chance she will put her hand up for one last international hurrah.
The three-time Olympic medallist is “proud and thrilled” to be the only Opal to play at two home Commonwealth Games after winning gold for Australia in Melbourne in 2006 before the sport was dropped from the event.
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She is also delighted to be given a second chance at exiting the international arena on her own terms after her controversial omission from the Opals team which suffered a shock quarter-final elimination at the Rio Olympics.
Snell, 37, has revealed she almost quit basketball in the wake of her Olympic rejection but was egged on by mates to continue playing.
Her decision to join the Sydney Flames two seasons ago lead to a WNBL crown and Snell playing such high level basketball it has resulted in her return to the Opals fold
“Missing Rio was a huge disappointment and to be bought back in is great and a true honour,” said Snell, who has also re-signed with the Flames for the 2018/19 WNBL season.
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“It will be nice to play in front of a home crowd. I know how great that was from Melbourne and it’s an honour to do it again.
“It is a chance for me to go out on my own yet terms.
“I haven’t made a decision about world champs in Spain later this year yet ... I will have the chat with Sandy (Brondello, Opals coach) after the Games.
“Right now I am just thrilled to be back playing in the green and gold.”
Snell and Brondello were long-serving Opals teammates with the new coach also selecting Snell for last year’s crucial world champions selection event, the Asia Cup in India.
Snell says her role with the Opals is to bring her wealth of experience to the game, assist younger players and to help create chemistry in the group.
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“Whether it is to bring more tempo in or just to get the ball to the players it is about using my basketball smarts and basketball IQ,” Snell said.
“It’s also about trying to build the chemistry between us all.”
In 2006 in Melbourne, Australia won the first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in both the women’s and men’s competitions with New Zealand and England finishing second and third in both competitions.