Local bowlers get chance in Asian schools event

Local bowlers get chance in Asian schools event

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

With Jaya Ancol Bowling Center set to play host to the best of
the region's young bowling talent, the hope is that local
youngsters will make the most of the opportunity in building
their future careers.

The 8th Asian Schools Bowling Championship for under 19s on
April 8-9 will feature about 100 young bowlers from nine
countries -- Brunei Darussalam, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand as well as Indonesia
-- but Australia is notably absent.

"Australian young bowlers have been regular participants, but
they have been deterred by the travel warning imposed by (their)
government," Ongki P. Sumarno, vice chairman of the Indonesian
Bowling Federation (PBI), said at a press conference here on
Friday.

The event, which offers 10 gold medals, is scheduled to start
on Wednesday with competition in singles and team event. The
second day will contest doubles and team, while a masters and
all-event competition will be on Friday and Saturday.

Malaysia has been the dominant force in the championship,
winning the most medals since it was first staged in 1998. In
Hong Kong last year, it took home six golds.

Favorites include Siti Safiyah, Erick Ang and Said Izlan of
Malaysia, Amanda Ng of Singapore and Ernie Cheng of Chinese
Taipei.

Japan and Hong Kong are also traditionally strong contenders.

Aswin Limansantosa, an official of the Indonesian team, said
the squad was intent on at least reprising its medal-winning
performance from the last two events.

"We won two golds in 2003 and a silver in 2004. Hopefully we
can see our players display promising performances that we can
build upon further for the next international challenge."

Meanwhile, Danny Santos, the technical delegate from the Asian
Bowling Federation (ABF), said Jakarta's hosting of the Asian
Senior Bowling Championship in 2006 would be a good opportunity
for PBI to demonstrate its ability to hold such an event and also
showcase its prospective young bowlers.

"The school championship is provided to bridge grassroots
development in respective countries. It will be a good chance for
youth to show their talent," Santos, who is the secretary-general
of the world bowling governing body Federation Internationale des
Quilleurs (FIQ), said.

Indonesian teams
Boys: Afwahadi Octora, Erick Ngo, Fandy Ananta Sutan, Jerry
Ramadona, Jesse Samuel Laksana, Marco Putra, Martin Otinova,
Satya Nugraha.
Girls: Lidya Suryani Haliworo, Listea Almira, Marchilia Christina
Sekeon, Margiana Dwi Ariani, Rania Anisha Nugroho, Shalima
Zalsha, Syncheria Wijaya, Tannya Roumimper.

(Team manager Reza Rafli Rumkana; coaches Harapan Matondang,
Orlando Robot, Haqi Armein, Putty Armein).