KUALA LUMPUR: A physically stronger Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman will be using the World Championships in Nevada to re-launch her bowling career after lying under the radar for almost three years.
The 23-year-old Safiyah is one of the six Malaysian women bowlers aiming to blaze the lanes in the World Championships which starts today in Nevada.
The others are Shalin Zulkifli, Esther Cheah, Sin Li Jane, Jacqueline Sijore and Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi.
Safiyah was the last bowler to make the team as chief coach Holloway Cheah wanted to be very sure that she had regained her form following her battle with thyroid problem that hit her since 2010.
Fortunately for Safiyah, the problem has been solved but she suffered a significant loss in weight and had to start all over again to regain her strength and composure.
She has been progressing gradually over the last one year and her inclusion in the team means she has regained the coaches’ faith.
Yesterday, Malaysia’s team manager Cheah Ban Cheng gave the thumbs-up on Safiyah’s readiness for the World Championships. Safiyah made heads turn in 2009 when she became the youngest bowler to win the World Ranking Masters title.
“Siti appeared to have recovered from her thyroid problem. She is stronger now and has responded well to Holloway’s training programme,” said Ban Cheng via Facebook chat yesterday.
“She has been shaping up well for the World Championships and we are happy with that.”
It is vital that every bowler in the team perform well as one low score could affect the whole squad’s bid for glory.
Malaysia are aiming for their third women’s team title in 10 years of the World Championships. The women’s team won gold in the 2003 and 2007 editions in Kuala Lumpur and Mexico respectively.
Malaysia will also be aiming to do well in the men’s category. The six bowlers ready to rumble are Alex Liew, Adrian Ang, Zulmazran Zulkifli, Mohd Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, Timmy Tan and Mohd Rafiq Ismail.
The world meet begins with the men’s singles event today, followed by the women’s singles tomorrow.
It is the first time in 10 years that the both the men and women World Championships are held concurrently. Prior to that, it was held in alternate years.
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