Halimat Adio

Biography

Due to her sister’s influence, Halimat Adio started playing netball in primary school and began to realise the importance of the sport as her education progressed. By the time she reached college, she had only one aim in mind: play for her country.  

After being spotted at a Netball Performance League (NPL) tournament, she was invited to an England positional camp before being selected for the U19s. Several tours, including to Jamaica and South Africa, followed and she was subsequently elevated to the U21s. However, injury stopped her from appearing at the Netball World Youth Cup in 2017.  

“Netball has had such a positive impact on me. I think it’s allowed me to gain traits necessary for me to succeed in life. It’s just basically allowed me to be a better me, a better Halimat.”  

While her injury was disappointing and a setback, it didn’t stop her from pursuing netball and in her words, "just made me stronger as a person.” Come 2019, Adio was first selected for the England Futures squad and played at the Europe Netball Open in Northern Ireland.  

Her mental resilience shone through again at a domestic level, having not only returned but starred for London Pulse in 2023 after an intense 18-month rehab. 

Adio is also passionate about harnessing sport to make a difference and plays a key role at a grassroots level in the Beyond the Court initiative, utilising the power of sport to strengthen the relationship between young women and police in South London. 

On 24 September 2023, Adio made her debut for the Vitality Roses against the New Zealand Silver Ferns in the Taini Jamison Trophy. She was also named co-captain for the series alongside Sophie Drakeford-Lewis.

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