Netball: Van Dyk eyeing another world champs

The pain from an agonising defeat hasn't even started to go away, but evergreen shooter Irene van Dyk is already eyeing the next world netball championship.

Van Dyk arrived back in Auckland yesterday as part of the first group of Silver Ferns to return home after their 58-57 overtime loss to defending champions Australia in the final in Singapore on Sunday night.

At 39, and with five world tournaments under her belt, she has no thoughts of retirement just yet.

She sees the next event in Sydney in 2015 as a realistic goal provided she maintains her health and her form.

"It would be fantastic if I can be there," she said.

"If I'm blessed with good health and no injuries, and as long as the selectors think I'm good enough, I would absolutely love to go to another world championships."

Van Dyk, who played 72 tests for South Africa before making New Zealand her home, has taken her tally of appearances for the Silver Ferns to 126 over the past 11 years.

Despite her longevity on the international stage, she still hankered for more.

"The highs that you get from sport are incredible and the lows are just so heart-breaking," she said.

"But it's kind of addictive . You just want more and more and more."

The Silver Ferns have five more tests this year, all in October.

There are two matches at home against England, before a series against the Diamonds in Australia.

"We play three against Aussie," van Dyk said. "Can't wait."

She said the pain from the final in Singapore, in which New Zealand had led 26-20 at halftime, hadn't lessened in the hours since the final whistle.

It was especially difficult given that the Silver Ferns believed they had done all they could in their preparation.

"We dotted our I's and we cross our T's and it was really unfortunate that we let slip six goals," she said.

"What's so gut-wrenching is that you've done the preparation, you've worked so hard for it, and it just didn't happen."

With the bulk of the 12-strong squad electing to spend some time overseas, van Dyk was one of three players on the flight home yesterday, along with fellow shooters Anna Thompson and Paula Griffin.

They were accompanied by coach Ruth Aitken, assistant coach Waimarama Taumaunu and other management staff, and the group received warm applause from members of public in the airport terminal.

Aitken, who has taken the Silver Ferns to a world title and back-to-back Commonwealth Games gold medals in her decade in charge, said she hadn't made a decision about her future.

Her contract is up at the end of next month, and she said she would have some down time first before considering the issue.

"I've deliberately put it aside because my brain is far too clogged at the moment to think sensibly," she said.

"I've got some time out next week and I'll reflect after that."

Aitken said there remained "a sick feeling in the pit of the stomach" over the loss to the Diamonds, but she was immensely proud of her players.

"It just shows what an incredible match-up New Zealand-Australia netball is," she said.

"It's legendary and it's all about the day and it just wasn't quite our day. We probably needed 30 seconds more, but you don't get that in sport."

- NZPA