M Naqiuddin Durrani Nor Afandi of Sarawak lawn bowls men’s team in action at the Lawn Bowls Arena yesterday.
Head coach Siti (far right) with Sarawak chef-de-mission Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and other invited guests at the Lawn Bowls Arena July 27. The inimitable (Salba president) Awang Mahyan is at second left (front).
KUCHING: Sarawak took another step to the quarterfinals after beating Negeri Sembilan 19-14 in a Group A men’s triples event at Sarawak Lawn Bowls Arena here yesterday. However, Sarawak flopped in the men’s pairs yesterday when they lost 6-19 to Selangor and later bowed 13-15 to Melaka.
The men continue their battle in the men’s triples. The lawn bowls continue today (July 28) with quarterfi nal play-offs from 10am. The semifi nals and fi nals will be held on July 30. Head coach Siti Nadiahusna Saimi said the team will strive on for their target of two golds. She was optimistic of another gold prospect after winning their fi rst gold in the women’s fours final last Sunday to retain their title in Sukma Perlis 2014.
“It was indeed a great start as expected on Sunday, when we defended our title in the women’s fours. I am very satisfi ed with the team. We had expected the win and achieved it,” said Siti yesterday. The Sarawak women’s fours – powered by Nur Fithri Yaani Hamdin, Sh. Syaza Nisrina Mumtaz Wan Jemudin, Nur Fitrah Rosmadi and Jamiah Hasbi – finished tops in the final after beating Selangor’s quartet 16-11. Meanwhile, in the men’s fours quarterfinal on July 24, despite losing to Terengganu 20-5, Siti was pleased with the chemistry of the newcomers.
Siti also admitted she was not pleased with Nina Hairani in the women’s singles. “She was not fully prepared, both mentally and spiritually…,” she said. The singles and fours events are now wrapped up and the game will continue with pairs and triples forboth men and women. The state lawn bowling team consi st s of seven boys and seven girls. It is headed by Siti, assisted by team manager Wan Jemudin Wan Ibrahim and three coaches, namely Saiful Adli Sami, Hamimah Sejili and Muhammad Fairuz Abang Deni.
For Sukma XVIII, training started early last year, after Siti and her assistant coaches scouted for talents in schools like SMK Demak Baru, SMK Openg, SMK Petra Jaya and SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman in the vicinity of Kuching. “We conducted the search from January to April 2015 to find amazing talents and we went from there to training before this year’s Sukma,” she said. “I’m glad to be part of this team who continuously deliver a great feat,” added the former state athlete who has led the team for two years.
“Sukma XVIII is a great platform for newcomers to be groomed for future competitions. There is little exposure of lawn bowls as a sport in the state. This is not a sport for the old and feeble. In fact, bowlers must be super-fi t. “We will continue to explore, with new facilities we now have here to get the younger generation excited,” said Siti, adding that the Sarawak Lawn Bowl Complex is the third covered lawn bowls stadium in the country. — Jude Toyat