KUALA LUMPUR – The national lawn bowls squad are targeted to reach at least the semi-finals in the World Bowls Championships and World Bowls Singles Champion of Champions in Gold Coast, Australia in September.
Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) president Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz said this was to ensure the national players would finish in the top five of both tournaments.
The World Bowls Championships will be held from August 29 to September 10 and the World Bowls Singles Champion of Champions from September 11 to 17.
“If our players reach the quarter-finals, it’s uncertain if they can achieve a top-five finish but if they reach the last four, they will surely be in the top five in the world. That’s my goal as the president… to ensure our players are among the best in the world and respected by all,” he said after the MLBF executive committee meeting here today.
To help the players achieve the goal, the national squad will train and play friendlies against India and England at the Mermaid Beach Bowls Club in the Gold Coast from August 21.
He said the national lawn bowlers will leave for the Gold Coast 10 days earlier to get used to the condition of the green there as well as to play in the two friendlies.
“With the exposure from the friendlies, the coaches will be able to rectify their players’ techniques and weaknesses, in addition to improving Malaysia’s world ranking. At the Commonwealth and world stage, we are in seventh position,” he said.
He also announced the 10 players – five men and five women – who will be carrying the country’s challenge at the two prestigious tournaments.
Awalan hopes the combination of experienced players and newcomers would be able to put on a solid performance.
Following is the list of names of the 10 national players:
Men: Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple, Mohammad Soufi Rusli, Muhammad Idham Amin Ramlan, Muhammad Hizlee Abd Rais, and Muhammad Haiqal Azami.
Women: Azlina Arshad, Syafiqa Haidar Afif Abdul Rahman, Nur Ain Nabilah Tarmizi, Nurul Alyani Jamil, and Aleena Nawawi. – Bernama, June 6, 2023
