PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) have set a lofty target of winning a medal in every event at the World Youth Championships next month.
Eight events – four each in the boys’ and girls’ categories – will be contested at the SCAA Bowling Centre in Hong Kong from Aug 6-15.
“We’re targeting a medal in every event ... it’s a possible target as our bowlers have showed marked improvement in their performances,” said MTBC secretary-general Cheah Ban Cheng.
“We’ve a very strong team with 75% of the players from the elite squad,” added Ban Cheng.
In the boys’ category, Malaysia will be represented by elite bowlers Rafiq Ismail, Timmy Tan and Jonathan Ding Sagan and back-up squad member Ahmad Muaz Fishol.
Elite bowlers Natasha Roslan and Radin Nur Najwa Arifah Radin Dzulfakar will lead the girls’ challenge along with back-up bowler Victoria Chin and national youth star Nerosha Keligit.
The addition of American John Forst as the associate national coach in March has also helped produce significant results with Victoria’s triumph at the Hong Kong Open and Ahmad Muaz’s second-place finish at the Singapore Open last month.
“Well, you could say John has earned his two cents worth in just a few months. There has been a definite improvement with the back-up squad judging from Victoria and Ahmad Muaz’s successes,” said Ban Cheng.
“As an experienced lane man, he’s able to impart knowledge to the bowlers and add an extra dimension to their game,” he added. “We’ve got a bumper of tournaments lined up this year, so his arrival is quite timely as we also gear up for the Asian Games in September.”
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