TWO young sports stars from Greenock are aiming high after landing a place in the national netball team.

Emma Mitchell, 17, and Savannah Antoine, 15, have been picked to represent Scotland in the under-21s squad.

The pair may also get the chance to compete against some of the best in the world at a major tournament in Africa next year.

Emma said: “We will be training up until October for the World Youth Championships in Botswana and 12 players will be chosen to take part.
“It’s quite exciting.

“It’s a squad with a lot of younger people as well as older players.”

The girls - who are members of Clyde Netball Club - saw off tough competition from hundreds of top players to reach the final 24.

Emma has just finished at Notre Dame High and is going on to study forensics at university after the summer.

Savannah, who is still at Notre Dame and has been playing the sport for four years, said: “This will be my first experience of being in a national squad.

“You make friends that you will keep for the rest of your life and it takes you out of your comfort zone meeting new people.” 

Emma took up the sport seven years ago and hasn’t looked back since. She told the Tele: “I like playing in a team. It’s a laugh and you meet people.

“If I was chosen to play in Botswana I feel I would make everyone very proud.

“It would be an amazing experience.”

Claire Munn, Clyde Netball Club coach, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Emma and Claire.

“They will make lifelong friends with the girls they meet from all parts of Scotland.

“They are totally dedicated and have to organise their training to fit around school work and friends, so it’s not easy. We’re a small club, so to have two girls reach the under-21 squad is a massive achievement.”