2005 Women and Sports Award Recipient for Grassroots Development

Puan Hajah Norlia Ismail

When talking about the development of netball, one name keeps cropping up, Hajah Norlia Ismail. She has devoted her life towards the development of netball in the country. And thanks to her untiring efforts, Selangor has over the years produced several national netball players. Noor Banu Abd Kadir, Norsham Balqis and Zuraina Maskal Khan who are members of the national tema are products of Hulu Langat District Netball Association. She has held the position of President of the Hulu Langat District Netball Association from 1999-2001 and at national level has served the Malaysia Netball Association in variours positions for well over eight years. Norlia was nominated for the Olympic Council of Malaysia Women and Sports Award by the Selangor State Youth and Sports Department. And Norlia is one of the five short listed cabdidates for the award, the others being are Dato’ Mary Ritchie, Shirley Chow, Lim Chiew Ah and Tan Jin Yin. The mother of five was in teaching profession from 1965 until her retirement in 1998. And all her children followed her footsteps and are now teaching in various parts of the country.