Eight-year wait ends as bowlers selected to represent country at Kuwait meet
KUCHING: After a lapse of eight years, Sarawak bowling has been thrust into the limelight again.Two national youth keglers, Aris Ardila Santos and Jacqueline Sijore, have been chosen to represent the country in the 15th Asian Youth Championship in Salmiya City, Kuwait from January 23 to February 2.
They will join six other bowlers in the national youth team, led by national youth coach Jackson Ting.
Amateur Bowling Association of Sarawak (Abas) secretary Robert Lu said they were happy that Sarawakians were called up again to play for the country in an Asian competition after so many years.
The last time the state had bowlers in the national youth team for the Asian Youth Championship was in 2001 when Jackson Ting and Tang Joh Six helped the country to its first overall champions title in Dubai.
Lu said the two bowlers were picked by the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress based on their performances in national competitions throughout the year.
Other criteria include a positive attitude, consistency and high discipline.
“Abas, the coaches and parents have been pushing very hard for the bowlers to succeed and finally, our junior development programmes are bearing fruit,” he added.
According to Lu, the big pool of junior bowlers under the state Elite, Excellence and Unit Prestasi Tinggi Negeri training and development programmes has enabled Sarawak to pick the cream of the crop for Sukma and national championships.
“Kudos to Jackson Ting who has done a lot to help our bowlers reach a higher level,” he said.