INCHEON: When it comes to bowling at the Asian Games, septuagenarian Holloway Cheah certainly has the Midas touch.
As a player, Holloway was part of the five-man team with Allan Hooi, J.B. Koo, Edward Lim and Datuk Dr P.S. Nathan, now the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) president, who made bowling history by winning the gold at the Bangkok Asiad in 1978.
It was the first gold won by the Malaysian contingent that year and it was also the first time bowling became a medal sport.
After taking over the coaching job from Sid Allen, Holloway led the Malaysian team to the Busan Asiad in 2002.
He made an immediate impact as Malaysia won two golds through Wendy Chai-Sarah Yap in the women’s doubles and Shalin Zulkifli in the women’s Masters.
Four years later in Doha, Holloway was again at the forefront as his charges, including daughter Esther, returned home with three golds for bowling’s best-ever showing in the Asiad. Esther rolled her way to the women’s singles crown while Daniel Lim, Ben Heng and Aaron Kong clinched the men’s trios title.
Esther picked up another gold when she combined with Shalin, Wendy, Sharon Koh, Zandra Aziela and Choy Poh Lai to triumph in the five-woman team.
Holloway again achieved success in the last Asiad in Guangzhou in 2010, bringing his gold tally to seven as coach. This time, Alex Liew emerged as the star. He combined with Adrian Ang to win the men’s doubles as well as the All-Events.
Having been part of the golden moments of Malaysia’s bowling campaign in the Asian Games, the 72-year-old Holloway wants to keep his perfect record intact.
“Bowling has always delivered at the Asian Games and I am proud of my record as an athlete and as coach. I hope the bowlers can attain success again this time,” said Holloway.
Malaysia’s biggest threat will come from hosts South Korea.
Holloway, however, is unperturbed.
“The Koreans are strong but it does not mean they are unbeatable at home. In fact, any of our six men and six women bowlers have as much chance of striking gold as the Koreans as well as the Singaporeans or Filipinos.
“It’s a matter of getting our act right on the day of the competition.
“The Koreans know what we are capable of. They allowed us to train alongside them at the competition venue last month. They wanted to study and see how we react to the lane conditions at the venue,” said Holloway.
And he was all smiles when asked about his 1978 campaign.
“We won the gold in the afternoon. Later in the day, Saik Oik Cum won another gold in the women’s 400m.
“It was a great achievement for bowling, winning the first gold for the country when the sport finally became a part of the Asian Games for the first time.
“I still keep the gold medal in the special box that came with it. Unlike now, we did not receive any monetary rewards. It didn’t really matter. It’s the feeling of having accomplished something that money can’t buy,” he said proudly.
Will he be around for the next Asiad?
‘’Five Asian Games for me is enough,’’ he replied.
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