Kyra Jones says netball needs Olympic Games inclusion to reach wider audience

Kyra Jones says a future inclusion in the Olympic Games for netball is vital in allowing the sport to reach a wider audience.

Next month's Commonwealth Games in Australia will provide the game with an opportunity to showcase its merits but a major stumbling block in recent efforts is their difficulty to expand into weaker international regions - the sport has not taken off in Russia, China and the United States.

Perth-born Jones will compete at the Gold Coast for Wales in her second Games and describes the situation as "disheartening" despite the growth in the sport across Commonwealth-playing countries.

"Netball is played by so many women across the whole world," Jones, who plays in the Vitality Superleague for Celtic Dragons, told Sky Sports.

"It's the number one sport for females and to not have it in the Olympic Games is disheartening to a point.

"It would be beneficial [for the sport]. How the game is moving forward now makes it more and more exciting. You have just got to look at the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in regards to how it can be.

"But then also look at the domestic competitions in Australia, New Zealand and in England and the results that are coming.

"To have that at an even higher global stage would mean more people could watch the sport and therefore you are only going to get more people wanting to play it."

Jones earned her 50th Wales cap in January against Northern Ireland at the Netball Europe World Cup qualifiers and, despite her experience within the set-up, does not feel undue pressure on her shoulders.

"I feel that as a Wales squad each and every individual player is a leader on and off the court," added Jones.

"We have Suzy Drane as captain vice-captain Kelly Morgan, who are the go-to players if needed.

"I don't necessarily feel as if I have got pressure on me to perform because we all share it together."

Wales, under the leadership of interim head coach Julie Hoornweg, will be competing in Pool B alongside New Zealand, England, Scotland, Malawi and Uganda.

The Vitality Superleague returns on Sunday, April 22, with Wasps Netball in action against Team Bath. Coverage gets underway from 2.45pm on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Mix, which you can find on channel 287, and is free for all Sky customers.

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