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).