Holloway calls for fines on bad conduct, just like at Wimbledon

PETALING JAYA: The recently concluded Wimbledon brought about more than just sensational rallies and Jannik Sinner capturing his first title at the All England Club, but it also raised discussions on sportsmanship and conduct.

Tennis players at the tournament had been under the watchful eye of umpires, collecting fines in the thousands of dollars.

The topic caught the attention of legendary bowling coach Holloway Cheah, who believes it’s time for bowling to follow suit, especially at the amateur and grassroots levels.

“I saw that Wimbledon had started fining players again, not just for smashing racquets, but also for cursing and bad behaviour,” said Holloway.

“I think bowling should implement the same but currently, there is no such rule in our region.”

Holloway said the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) in the United States have already enforced fines and penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and raised questions on the absence of similar rules in the region.

“In the PBA, they don’t tolerate that type of behaviour anymore. But in the amateur world, or this part of the world, there is no rule on that,” he said.

Holloway said bad behaviour in bowling often stems from frustration during poor performances, with self-proclaimed “superstars” often being the worst offenders, as they blame external factors rather than taking responsibility.

“This kind of reaction is usually coming from the losing party. They kick things around or curse loudly.

“They try to show that their loss isn’t their fault, but the environment or something else.

“That’s not how a true sportsman behaves. It’s not sporting at all, it sends the wrong message to the young ones watching,” he said.

Holloway added that high-level athletes, especially those often in the media spotlight, must carry themselves with dignity. Fondly known as “Ah Sir”, Holloway was the national bowling head coach for 22 years before retiring at the end of 2022.

Among the bowlers that soared under Holloway was national great Shalin Zulkifli, whom he praised for keeping her composure when things didn’t go her way.

“When Shalin was at her peak, she didn’t win every time.

“But if she lost, she only showed her disappointment in private. That’s class, and how a great athlete should behave,” he said.

But sometimes the language can get a little rough, even when it’s coming from the winner, too, in moments when all the emotions need an outlet.

When it comes to this, Holloway said this is where sports education must go beyond technical coaching, and must include character building and media conduct.

“When I was with the national team, the National Sports Council had media training for our athletes.

‘’We taught them how to handle interviews, how to speak respectfully, and behave under pressure.

“If you’re in the public eye, especially as a star, your behaviour matters. It’s about setting an example. We don’t want to raise a generation of poor losers,” he said.