Mahyan presents the state colours to Abdillah (sixth left) at the Sarawak Lawn Bowls Arena in Petra Jaya on Tuesday.
KUCHING: The Sarawak lawn bowlers are capable of improving their performance in Sukma XIX in Perak at the Lawn Bowls Complex, MBI Sports Complex, Ipoh from Sept 13 to 21.
Awang Mahyan Awang Mohamed, the ever positive Sarawak Lawn Bowls Association (SALBA) president, is not afraid of setting an ambitious target for his players.
“We won one gold medal in the women’s fours at the last Sukma in Kuching two years ago and this time around, we are aiming for three gold medals which I am very confident that our bowlers can achieve it.
“They have been training very hard under the guidance of experienced coach Zaidi Puteh apart from undergoing several exposure competitions in West Malaysia,” he said at the flag presentation ceremony at Sarawak Lawn Bowls Arena, Sarawak Sports Complex in Petra Jaya yesterday.
He believes Sarawak’s best chance for the gold medal lies in the women’s fours again but expressed optimism that other bowlers can spring surprises.
“I don’t think it is impossible
for us to realise the three-gold medal target if all our athletes perform with consistency and give their best shots in Perak,” he added.
Sarawak, represented by seven men and seven women bowlers, will take part in the singles, pairs, trios, fours and mixed pair competition which offers nine gold medals in total.
The men’s team comprises Mohd Iskandar Zulkairnain Sukardi, Abdul Rahman Amminuddin, Mohamad Amirul Hafizi Jaffar, Muhammad Ramadhan Jeffy, Mohd Azhar Samara, Haniz Nur Hakim Mohamad Helmi and Awg Mohd Sharszan Fyirman Awg Nasaruddin while the women’s team consists of Nur Fitrah Rosmadi, Sh Syaza Nisrina Mumtaz Wan Jemudin, Jamiah Hasbi, Nur Fitri Rosmadi, Nina Hairani Nor Mohamad, Nur Fithri Aisyah Hamdin and Fatin Izzati Jamri.
Assisting coach Zuraidi are Mohd Fairus Abg Deni, Saiful
Adli Saimi and Syed Iqmaluddina Wan Azman while Abdillah Zain
is team manager and Hamimah Sejeli the women’s team chaperon.
Assistant chef-de-mission for lawn bowls is Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.