Bowls Sabah want roofing of lawn bowls courts
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Lawn Bowls Association (Bowls Sabah) submitted an application yesterday for the roof construction of the lawn bowls courts at Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas.
It was the fourth time since 2008 that the association had requested for an upgrade of the sports facility, which Bowls Sabah president Datuk Ladislaus Maluda believed could contribute to the development of Sabah's lawn bowls.
"We have applied for it since 2008 so that Court B will be roofed. And today, we are requesting yet again for the fourth time.
"This time, hopefully, it will materialise," said Ladislaus during his speech at the opening of the Sabah Open Lawn Bowls Pairs Open Tournament here yesterday.
Ladislaus went on to submit the application letter to Sabah Sports Board (SSB) chairman Datuk Louis Rampas at the end of his speech.
Rampas was representing Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan at the ceremony.
Ladislaus said the need to roof the court was urgent to ensure the development of the sport through the association could be implemented effectively.
He added it was just unfortunate the roof was still lacking as Sabah have a lot of lawn bowls talents while, at the same time, the state have a reputation of being good tournament hosts whether at national or international level.
"The lack of roofing has affected the sport development because it is not ideal to train or compete when the weather is too hot or during downpours.
"A lot of athletes just could not stand when the temperature hits 39 degree celcius which can be harmful to their health. Furthermore when it rains, it is impossible to use the courts.
"In fact, it is also one reason why the athletes, including from outside of the state, shy away from taking part in competitions here," he said.
Having said that, Ladislaus revealed that their main aim for next year would be to revive the Borneo Cup while also focussing on the development of youth and technical aspect of the sport.
In his reply, Rampas hoped that the application would be successful and be implemented as soon as possible.
"The roof design is there but it (construction) could not be done because there is no allocation provided.
"However, I firmly believe that the minister (Tawfiq) will give due attention to the matter so that there will be an allocation for implementation," replied Louis.
Meanwhile, Tawfiq praised Bowls Sabah's efforts in staging tournaments at state, national and international levels, including the ongoing Pairs Open tournament.
Forty-eight teams including from Brunei are taking part in the fourday tournament. The rest are from Peninsular Malaysia and local based players.
The main event champions will receive RM3,000 plus trophy and medals while second placing will get RM2,000 plus trophy and medals.
The joint third placing will take home RM1,000 and trophy and medals while the joint fifth to eighth placing RM500 plus medals each.
As for the second-tier Plate event, the winning team will receive RM600 and medals, runners-up RM500 and medals and joint third placing RM400 and medals.
Also present were SSB deputy general manager Mohd Asneh Mohd Noor and Bowls Sabah deputy president-cum-tournament director Shuib Hashim.