PETALING JAYA: National elite bowler Mohd Rafiq Ismail just can’t wait to compete in the World Youth Championships in Hong Kong from Aug 6-15.
Rafiq is part of the team preparing for the youth meet as well as the Incheon Asian Games from Sept 19-Oct 4. It is a norm for the national squad to focus exclusively on training before major championships like the Asian Games.
The squad are already in centralised training with two sessions per day at the Sunway Mega Lanes in Sunway Pyramid.
Rafiq’s last competition was the Malaysian Open where he finished second behind compatriot Muhd Nur Aiman Khairuddin.
And he admits missing competing in tournaments and getting his competitive juices going.
“I still remember preparing for the World Championships in Nevada (the United States) last year. We didn’t go out for competitions for months and I felt a bit stressed out,” said Rafiq.
Besides Rafiq, the other elite bowlers picked for the World Youth Championships are Timmy Tan and Jonathan Ding Sagan. Back-up squad member Ahmad Muaz Fishol completes the boys’ team.
Elite bowler Natasha Roslan and Radin Nur Najwa Arifah Radin Dzulfakar will lead the girls’ charge together with back-up bowlers Victoria Chin and Nerosha Keligit.
Rafiq’s aim in Hong Kong is to help the team win the gold medal.
“It would be nice to get our hands on the team gold. I’m also targeting individual gold medals in the singles and the Masters,” said the SMK Bukit Indah Form Five student.
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