KUCHING: Sarawak are fielding second stringers for the boys and girls events at the Astro 35th National Closed Championship and the Astro 24th InterState Championship at Sunway Megalanes, Sunway Pyramid in Selangor from March 16 to 19.
EXPOSURE TRIP: Francis Nyurang Ding (second right, middle row) presents the state colours to Lu and the state bowling team while MSNS coordinator for tenpin bowling Suefarinawati Tengah (left) looks on. — Photo by Davidson Kho
Team manager Robert Lu said yesterday this was the youngest team that the state has ever sent to the two events that are being jointly organised together with the Peter Yap Memorial Cup.
“We are sending the second liners from the state elite back-up team with the objective of giving the young bowlers exposure and a chance for them to perform at the national stage,” he said after receiving the state colours from Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) director Francis Nyurang Ding at Civic Centre Kuching.
He said a majority of the young bowlers would be making their debut at the national championship.
Lu, who is also vice president of Amateur Bowling Association of Sarawak (Abas), said no medals target has been set for the boys and girls teams but felt that the men’s team might have a fighting chance of winning some medals.
“They include Sukma XIII gold medallist Chong Jun Foo and national back-up bowler Aris Ardila Santosoh who was dropped from the squad last Friday by Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress upon orders from the National Sports Council due to budget problems,” he said.
Lu said the eight keglers dropped from the back-up squad especially Aris would be out to prove that they can beat the national bowlers and give them a good run for their money.
However, it would be no easy task for Sarawak to win in the men’s and women’s events because the state bowlers will be up against the best bowlers from the national line-up including Alex Liew, Adrian Ang, Aaron Kong, Zulmazran Zulkilfi, Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi, Sharon Koh, Esther Cheah and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman.
Other members of the men’s team are Kelvin Eng and Peter Pu.
The women’s team will be spearheaded by recently promoted national bowlers Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abg Jamalidon and Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore, Caroline Chien and Nurafidza Mohd Amran.
Bong Kihow will lead the boys team that also consists of Christopher Tiong, Jeremy Jerome Jonathan and Muhd Syafiq Sajeli while the girls team comprises Jackelyn Ng, Jocelyn Judith Jonathan, Nadine Kong and Nerosha Keligit.
Sarawak finished second in the interstate championship last year with six silver and one bronze medals.
The silvers were won by Daniel Tan in the boys singles, Jackelyn Ng in the girls singles, Aris Ardilla Santosoh and Chong Jun Foo in the men’s doubles, Jackelyn Ng and Nurafidza Mohd Amran in the girls doubles, the boys team and girls team while the solitary bronze was captured by Nurafidza Mohd Amran in the girls All-Events.
Meanwhile, the boys team for the National Closed consists of Jonathan Ding Sagan, Daniel Tan and Abang Nazreen Firdaus while the members of the girls team are Ellysha Syafeena, Farzana Ibrahim and Raylin Ang.
Eight bowlers including one girl will also be going to compete in the Peter Yap Memorial Cup for the U-15 and U-12 and the Youth Boys Graded as well as the Youth Girls Graded on their own initiative and expenses.
They are Adri Shahri Santosoh, Razif Safini, Mohd Uzair Irsyad, Jeff Jerry Hii, Ethan Lo, Brendan Phang, Joshua Joel Jonathan and Dayang Ainin Sofiya.
The state team is trained by head coach Jackson Ting and his assistants Reginald Walter Anggas, Angelo Koay and Jeff Chin.
Abas deputy president Shaifulbahri Shukri is the assistant team manager.