It's lights out for bowlers in training

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Practicing in the dark is working wonders for national team bowlers in honing their skills for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

"The practice has been tried for two weeks and the results are better than when they play with the lights on," SEA Games bowling team manager Aswin Limansantoso said on Thursday.

A two-hour training session also includes 30 minutes of play with the lights out.

He hoped the bowlers' results in games would soon reach the excellent level of their lights-out practices.

"Basically, practicing in the dark is to improve the athletes' intuitive sense of bowling and in striking the pins. When they depend on their intuition, their movement becomes more natural and the speed of the bowling ball is faster."

Indonesia won one bronze in the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, the last time it was featured in the biennial competition.

With strong contenders from Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, the Indonesian Bowling Association is not specifying a gold medal target for the SEA Games, opening on Nov. 27.

However, national bowler Putty Armein is considered a strong contender for the women's individual gold in the Philippines.

In the men's division, Ryan Lalisang and Yuyu Lie, winners of the pairs title at the Asian intercity tournament here in September, are also in with a chance of a top finish.