Aris vows to add more firepower to men’s bowling team
PETALING JAYA: Well-built Aris Ardilla Santosoh from Sarawak has vowed to add more power to the Malaysia men’s bowling team after making the cut as one of the member of the elite squad.
Aris, who turned 21 last month, is one of the eight men selected for the national team. The others are Zulmazran Zulkifli, Alex Liew, Adrian Ang, Aaron Kong, Mohd Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, Mohd Nur Aiman Khairuddin and Isaac Russel Paul.
Aris and Isaac are the new faces in the national team and they selected based on their consistent results in the youth division.
Aris, a three-time National Boys’ Open champion is glad that he stayed put in Kuala Lumpur although the back-up squad was dissolved last year duo to National Sports Council (NSC)’S freeze on fund for the programme.
He was demoted to the youth department but continued to compete in Open tournaments to keep alive hopes of making it big in bowling. Now, he is happy that his perseverance paid off.
“I made a courageous move to uproot myself from Kuching in 2010 to give my bowling career a shot. I came down to Kuala Lumpur when I was selected to be in the national back up team but all my joy was shortlived when the programme was scrapped last year,” said Aris.
“I could have gone back to Kuching, where I had been based since I was 15 but decided to stick around here. All worked fine for me eventually. Now, I am happy beyond measure on being selected for the men’s elite team.”
The Miri-born Aris, who stands at 183cm and weighs 82kg and known for his powerful play in the alley by his peers, has vowed to make his mark.
“This is an opportunity that I had been waiting for. I have a stellar cast of bowlers as company in the national team but I amdetermined to learn as much as I can from them. I do not want to be a mere passenger but one that can win titles,” he said.
Aris is grateful to Zulmazran for his wise counsels and support during his time in the youth squad.
“As a youngster, we look up to someone and aspire to be like them and to me, Zulmazran has been a role model. I amgrateful that he has taken time to give advices and support when I was in the youth division.”
“I am also very thankful to my father (Santosoh Gariman) for encouraging me to pick up the sport when I was nine years old.”
Come March 10-17, Aris, will be under the spotlight when he begins his journey as an elite bowler at the National and Interstate Championships, where he has vowed to produce his best.
Last year, besides winning the youth division, Aris also did well in the men’s category when he came in third. His presence will certainly spice up the fight among the elite bowlers to be crowned as the national champion and also the battle to win one of the six slots for this year’s major event, the Asian Championships in Hong Kong in September.
Meanwhile, those in the women’s team are Shalin Zulkifli, Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, Esther Cheah, Sin Li Jane, Siti Shazwani Ahmad Suhaimi, Dayang Khairuniza, Hee Kar Yen, Sharon Koh, , Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani, Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi and Syaidatul Afifah. Syaidatul is the only new face in the women’s team.