SAVING HIS CAREER
Zulmazran withdraws from Sea Games training squad
ZULMAZRAN Zulkifli made a difficult decision to save his career when the bowler withdrew from the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games training squad yesterday.
The 34-year-old cited a serious lower back injury as the main reason.
With age catching up, Zulmazran may never get a chance to play in the Sea Games again.
The double-handed bowler also missed the 2015 Singapore Sea Games edition due to a knee injury.
Zulmazran, who has suffered various injuries in the past, showed signs of regaining his former self when he won the Thailand Open last month.
However, the three-time Malaysia Open champion suffered a back injury and withdrew after just two games into the men’s Masters at the National Championships recently.
National coach Holloway Cheah said Zulmazran informed him about the seriousness of the back injury and then decided to withdraw from the training squad.
“Zulmazran will look into options to treat his back problem.
“From the medical assessment, it is serious,” Holloway told Time sport yesterday.
Holloway, however, is not worried about Zulmazran’s withdrawal as he still has seven bowlers in the men’s training squad.
With the latest development, Holloway needs to drop only one bowler from the Sea Games men’s team.
The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) are expected to announce the men’s and women’s final Sea Games squads in the final week of June.
Holloway has 10 bowlers in the women’s training squad.
“The seven bowlers are working very hard in both training and competitions.
“The seventh bowler will still be training with the team in case of injuries.
“Zulmazran is one of our best bowlers but we still have options, so I am not in any situation that I need to be worried about,” Holloway added.
Former Asian No 1 bowler Alex Liew, Adrian Ang, Rafiq Ismail, Syafiq Ridhwan Abd Malek, Timmy Tan, Nur Aiman Khairudin and Ahmad Muaz Fishol make up the men’s training squad.
Malaysia are targeting six of 11 gold medals on offer at the biennial games. Except for Cambodia, Laos and Timor Leste, the other nations have confirmed their participation in bowling.