Karen Baugh, president of Netball Jamaica (NJ), says her organisation is planning a training camp in the United Kingdom (UK) to give the senior Sunshine Girls the best-possible shot at gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Commonwealth Games is to take place from July 23 to August 2.

Baugh said that from a logistical standpoint, the camp will carry added benefit for Jamaica’s elite players, many of whom are currently competing in overseas franchise leagues, including in Australia.

The final of Australia’s professional league isn’t until July 5, just weeks before the Commonwealth Games begins.

“It’s more practical to have the camp overseas because we need everyone to acclimatise over there,” Baugh explained.

“The overseas players are included in the long squad for the Commonwealth Games. As you know, the overseas players are engaged now in their club leagues and the coaches are training with the players here in Jamaica and so we are hoping to put together a strong squad,” Baugh told the Jamaica Observer.

The Jamaica Olympic Association is funding the team’s travel to the Commonwealth Games, but NJ will have to cover the UK camp on its own. Baugh estimates the camp for the 12-player squad will cost between Ja $8-$10 million which includes accommodation, meals and transportation.

To help cover costs, NJ has launched an “adopt-a-player” programme, inviting companies to sponsor individual players.

“We have to fund that camp by ourselves. Sponsors are welcome. We are always struggling where funding is concern and we are accustomed to rising above that,” Baugh explained.

Jamaica took silver at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 and Baugh said the goal for Glasgow is clear.

“We got a silver medal the last time and so our hope is that we’ll continue to perform at a very high level. Obviously we are always going for the gold, we want to be at the top of the podium and we will continue the work through this tournament and the World Cup next year to put out the best team that we can,” the president said.

Baugh also addressed Jamaica’s recent series defeats to England and Australia, saying the margins were hard to swallow but there were positives to take away.

“I know the results overall of those games were not good and, you know, people are not accustomed to the Sunshine Girls losing by those type of margins,” she said.

“When you look at some of the individual work, we do see some new talent coming through and it will be up to us to continue to work and give them opportunities because we want them to keep Jamaica’s flag flying high and doing the best we can to come out on the podium of any tournament we participating in,” she concluded.

Baugh.. it’s more practical to have the camp overseas because we need everyone to acclimatise over there (Photo: Observer file)

Jamaica’s Jodian Ward (right) catches the ball as New Zealand’s Maria Folau looks on during the 2018 Commonwealth Games third-place play-off netball match at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre in Gold Coast, Australia. Jamaica won 60-55. (Photo: Observer file)