S’wak to defend Interstate Championship title

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ALL THE BEST: Sarawak State Sports Council director Francis Nyurang Ding (fifth left) wishes Lu (right) good luck as he presents the state colours to the state bowling team.

KUCHING: Sarawak are fielding a strong team to defend their overall championship title at the 24th edition of the Astro 24th Interstate Bowling Championship hosted by Selangor from Mar 13-15.

Team manager Robert Lu rated the state team’s chances of retaining the overall title as good.

“It is quite timely for Aris Ardilla Santosoh and Isaac Russell Paul who were recently promoted into the national squad, to make an impact in the meet,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Other members of the men’s team are Chong Jun Foo and Hazwan Hasni.

Lu said World Women’s Bowling Championship gold medalist Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore and silver medalist of the DHC International Bowling Championship Japan, Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abang Jamaliddon are also a force to be reckoned with.

They are well supported by Nurafidza Mohd Amran and Nadine Kong.

“In the youth Boys category, most of the Sukma XIII 2010 gold medalists are still intact and should finish on the podium,” Lu said with confidence.

The youth Boys team comprises Daniel Tan, Muhd Syafiq Sajeli, Bong Kihow and Christopher Tiong.

As for the youth Girls category, only two bowlers from Sukma 2010 team Jackelyn Ng and Dayang Aida had been seriously training while the other two youth girls are Nerosha Keligit and Cherfenny Layun Parag, who had won several tournaments in the Sports Excel Bowling Circuits.

The state team, coached by Reginald Walter Angkas and Jeff Chin, will fly to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

The singles event will commence on Sunday followed by doubles the following day while the team event will be competed on Mar 15.

In last year’s event, Sarawak won the overall title with four gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

Selangor and Pulau Pinang were second and third respectively.

The gold medals won were from Jacqueline Sijore in the Women’s singles,Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abg Jamaliddon and Jacqueline Sijore in the Women’s doubles, Dayang Khairuniza, Jacqueline Sijore, Caroline Chien and Nurafidza Mohd Amran in the Women’s team, and Dayang Khairuniza in the All-events.

Meanwhile, members of the Sukma shadow team will also be taking part in the 36th Malaysian National Championships at the same venue from Mar 10-17.