Promotion on the cards for Tun Hakim and Syazwani
PETALING JAYA: Youngsters Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam (pic) and Nur Syazwani Sahar are set for a promotion to the elite squad – if the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress’ (MTBC) proposal to form a 14-member squad gets the green light from the National Sports Council (NSC).
The MTBC have proposed for seven men and seven women bowlers to be included in the newly revamped four-tier sports programme during the two-day workshop held last week.
The current 12 bowlers under the Podium programme are Rafiq Ismail, Alex Liew, Timmy Tan, Ahmad Muaz Fishol, Adrian Ang and Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek for the men’s team while Shalin Zulkifli, Sin Li Jane, Esther Cheah, Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman and Natasha Roslan made up the women’s squad.
MTBC secretary-general Maradona Chok said they wanted a seventh member in each squad to instil competitiveness among the players.
“We don’t want any of the top six to think that they are irreplaceable,” said Maradona.
“It has been proven during our recent selection roll-off for the Men’s World Championships that the regular six may not necessarily be the current best six bowlers as was evident when Tun Hakim upstaged Muaz for a place in the six-man team.
“If all goes well, we are going to promote Tun Hakim and Syazwani for the men and women’s sides respectively. We have proposed their names alongside 12 regulars for the new programme.”
Tun Hakim, 19, hogged the limelight last year, by winning the singles gold medal at the Asian Youth Championships in Manila and Masters’ title at the Asian Schools Championships (Under-18) in Sarawak.
He also finished runner-up at the Thailand Open in April and was placed a commendable 19th in his US PBA Tour debut at the Lubbock Sports Open in Texas in June.
Syazwani proved her mettle with a three-medal haul, including a gold in the All-Events, at the World Youth Championships in United States in August.
The MTBC have also requested for an additional 14 berths – seven men and seven women – for the backup squad, but it remains to be seen if NSC would accommodate them given the smaller budget.