Mixed champ Haiqal eyes return to national team

LAWN bowler Mohd Haiqal Azami hopes his final flourish in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) will lead to a return to the national team.

The 23-year-old certainly grabbed the attention of the national selectors when he won the mixed doubles gold with Nurshafila Omar by beating Perak’s Atiq Imran Aminuddin and Noor Shuhaiza Nadia Ghazali 16-8 at the Bukit Kiara Sports Complex yesterday.

This is his second Sukma gold, as he won the men’s doubles gold in the 2018 Sukma with Haiqal Roslan.

Haiqal was part of the national team in 2017 when he was 18 but was dropped as the selectors preferred experienced bowlers to participate in the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur then.

He went on to train with the Selangor team and eventually landed a job as the youth and sports assistant with the Selangor Sports Council.

“Now, I hope to get back to the national team. I do not know what’s the national team’s plan after Sukma, but if given a chance, I will join.

“I want to show that I have what it takes to bring success to Malaysia,” said Haiqal, who took up the sport when he was 12.

“I’m happy to win it with Nursha-fila as we got our tactics and planning right,” added Haiqal, who hopes to do well in the fours next.