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.