Factors behind Sarawak’s success in tenpin bowling
Sarawak’s tenpin bowlers have come a long way, from being push-overs in 1992 to be a team that everybody wants to beat.
Many coaches know how to teach the bowlers to bowl but few can understand their bowlers well.
SARAWAK’S tenpin bowlers have come a long way, from being push-overs in 1992 to be the team that everybody wants to beat at Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) and other national events.
The long journey was not without its ups and downs.
Sukma head coach Jackson Ting Nik Soon attributed Sarawak’s success to a number of factors, among which are efficient and professional management of the Amateur Tenpin Bowling Association of Sarawak (ABAS), strong support by the Sarawak government through the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS), good facilities and strong support from parents, supporters and sponsors.
“We have a good panel of high calibre, committed and dedicated coaches who are former athletes, assistance from ball specialists and most importantly, the guidance and advice from bowling expert/consultant in Foong Tat Meng,” he said.
Foong is Ting’s mentor and the latter had followed him to many tournaments where he acquired valuable knowledge and experience about the sport.
“He taught me how one can really manage teams and what are the keys to coaching bowlers and making them successful.
“He gave us lots of examples and one fine example was why the Penang team can win so many gold medals (eight) to become overall champion and why can’t Sarawak,” said the former national youth bowler and national youth coach.
According to Ting, it was very important to know and understand the bowlers, their weaknesses and strengths.
They are also taught to adapt
— Jackson Ting, Sukma head coach
to bowl in any kind of lane conditions.
“Many coaches know how to teach the bowlers to bowl but few can understand their bowlers well.
“For a team event, we must have bowlers who have the same qualities and can complement each other well.
“There is also a need to find out what the lane conditions are at the bowling centre because every bowling centre is a different scenario,” he added.
Ting stressed the importance of good planning and being well prepared for the challenge in any competition.
“You must have Plan A which is the original plan, Plan B as the back-up plan if Plan A fails to work and Plan C for the worst scenario.
“Sarawak’s game plan started to change after Sukma Melaka where MSNS came in to help us by bringing in people to provide services for sports nutrition, sports science, psychology and others.
“They also brought in lecturers and experts to conduct sports science related workshops, seminars and courses for the coaches, officials and athletes,” he said.
Ting’s most memorable Sukma was when Sarawak hosted the national biennial games in 2016.
“Sukma Sarawak 2016 was the remarkable achievement for me where we captured
11 gold medals in tenpin bowling, with two golds coming from the women’s singles.
“The other gold medal was won by
This is the second of the three-part series on the history of Sarawak tenpin bowling and the key people who brought the sport to new heights.
Federal Territories in the men’s trios event.
“This can only be a lifetime achievement and I am sure no other team can match us,” he said. However, he could not hide his disappointment when Sarawak lost to Selangor by a single gold medal in the race for the overall championship crown.
“I was told that if we (bowling) win two golds in the masters events, we could be the Sukma overall champions.
Putting the disappointment aside, Ting feels proud that Sarawak is able to produce world class bowlers who brought much pride and glory to the state and country.
In 2003, Jonathan Lim represented Malaysia in 5th World Tenpin Team Cup in Odense, Denmark and won the men’s team gold.
He was also a member of the national team that participated in the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur and won the men’s team bronze.
Eight years later, Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore created history when she defeated more established bowlers to bag the women’s singles gold in the World Championship in Hong Kong.