Please release them, let them bowl!

KUALA LUMPUR: The SEA Games preparation for the national lawn bowls team is in disarray after nine athletes failed to get clearance for full-time training.

Malaysia Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) secretary general Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Zain said seven lawn bowlers from Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and two from Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) have not been released by their respective employers to train full-time.

“They can only train in the morning and return to work after that,” said Syed Zainal, who did not want to reveal the names of the nine athletes.

“We’ve started our centralised training at Bukit Kiara last month but the half-day training has made it difficult for the nine lawn bowlers. It’s tiring for them.”

The National Sport Council (NSC) have written to PDRM and DBKL to release the players.

“But we’re still waiting,” said Syed Zainal, who is also the national lawn bowls team manager.

The MLBF need to settle the matter early as they plan to send 20 SEA Games-bound athletes to Manila from July 12-19 to train with the Philippines national team at the Games venue.

The hosts are offering six gold medals in the men’s and women’s pairs, triples and fours but they have dropped the men’s and women’s singles, which were won by Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in 2017.

Meanwhile, the other assignments lined up for the team are the Australian Open in Gold Coast (June 1-14) and the Asia Pacific Championships in Gold Coast from (June 16-30).

Malaysia have to finish among the top 10 teams at the Asia Pacific meet to qualify for next year’s World Championships in Gold Coast.

We’ve started our centralised training last month but the halfday training has made it difficult for the nine lawn bowlers. It’s tiring for them.

Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Zain