PBI ponders hiring foreign coach
PBI ponders hiring foreign coach
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a bid to increase the competitiveness of Indonesian
players, the national bowling association (PBI) is pondering a
plan to recruit a foreign consultant and a coach, according to a
release here on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing final series of the
Aviva Asian Bowling Tour at SAFRA Resorts Bowl in Singapore, PBI
Chairman Maxi Gunawan said a foreign consultant was needed to
determine which tournaments are necessary for the athletes to
compete in to improve their performances while a foreign coach
would be projected to train the junior national team.
The idea was raised following Happy Soediyono and Ryan
Lalisang's failure to advance to the quarterfinals in Singapore
despite their promising positions prior to the tournament.
Happy had been fifth and Ryan sixth after six events in the
series only to flop on Friday in the seventh and final event of
the Aviva Asian bowling tour series.
Despite the failure, Maxi hailed his two proteges for their
good performances.
"Happy and Ryan's run to the final of the tour to join the
Asian elite deserves praise given that it was their first
participation in the tour. It was unlucky that they failed to
break into the top eight," Maxi was quoted as saying in the
release.
Aswin Limansantoso, the head of PBI's foreign affairs, voiced
financial concerns, saying that a consultant or a coach would
cost between US$5,000 and $9,000 per month.
Meanwhile, in Saturday's women's quarterfinal round, Malaysian
Shalin Zulkifli advanced to the semifinals after defeating
compatriot Sarah Yap 246-192.
Defending champion Shalin will be challenged by another
compatriot Lai Kin Ngoh. The other semifinal match will see host
bowler Jennifer Tan against Liza del Rosario of the Philippines.
In the men's semifinals, United States-born Purvis Granger of
the Philippines will be tested by his apprentice Biboy Rivera,
while Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong will face Malaysian Azidi Ameran.
The Singapore event offers US$76,000 in cash prizes. The
previous six events of the series were held in Malaysia,
Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The tour provides a grand total of US$226,000 in prize money.