MTBC push for five more bowlers for Tier 2 of Podium Programme
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) will be making one last bid to get five more bowlers to be included in Tier 2 of the newly revamped fourtier Podium Programme.
The five are four men – world champions Adrian Ang and Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, Alex Liew and Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek – and one woman, Nur Syazwani Sahar.
The five did not meet the Tier 2 (potential Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medal contenders) criteria earlier as they were not Asian Games medallists in Indonesia.
Only nine bowlers – three men and six women – have made the second highest tier behind Tier 1 (Olympic Games) in the initial proposal last month.
They are Rafiq Ismail, Timmy Tan and Ahmad Muaz Fishol – who bagged the men’s trios silver at the Asiad– and the women’s silver medal-winning sextet Shalin Zulkifli, Sin Li Jane, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, Esther Cheah, Natasha Roslan and Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi.
But buoyed by the resounding success where Malaysia achieved their best-ever two-gold haul at the Men’s World Championship in Hong Kong earlier this month, MTBC reckon the bowlers have proven themselves enough to make up the Tier 2 group.
The athletes in the top two tiers will command higher monthly allowances and better perks than their counterparts in the Tier 3 (SEA Games) and Tier 4 (non Games).
“We are hopeful of having a 14-member elite squad in the Tier 2,” said MTBC secretary-general Maradona Chok.
“In the previous Podium Programme, we always have a full squad of 12 members and that makes training and tournament plannings much easier for us.
“National bowlers, be it men and women, have always delivered at major competitions. We have now produced world champions for the second straight year.
“There shouldn’t be anymore doubt about their credentials. Our bowlers should be placed where they deserve,” he added.
With a world title under their belts, Adrian and Tun Ameerul should have enough credentials to be included in Tier 2.
But the same can’t be said for Alex, the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games double gold medallist, and 2012 World Cup champion Syafiq, who have been struggling to impress this year.
But the veteran duo, on their good days, will always be a force to be reckoned with.
The MTBC can make a good case for Syazwani by virtue of being the world youth champion this year.
Apart from the 14-member elite team, MTBC are also trying to convince the NSC to fund 14 more bowlers under Tier 4 for them to establish a back-up squad.