MTBC: World champions have to earn their right to compete

They may be world bowling champions and elite squad members, but both Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam and Nur Syazwani Sahar (pic) are no automatic starters for the Asian Youth Championships (AYC), which will be held in Kuching from April 19-25.

Tun Hakim, the World Championships men’s doubles gold medallist, and Syazwani, the girls’ All-Events winner at the World Youth Championships (WYC), will have to compete for their places like everyone else when the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) hold a five-day roll-off to pick a team comprising four boys and four girls starting tomorrow.

A total of 12 bowlers – seven boys and five girls – have been shortlisted for the selection.

Besides Tun Hakim, the others vying for the berths in the boys’ team are backup squad duo Shahrukh Amin Zulkifli and Hafiz Zainuddin, and national youth members Nevern Netaneel, Akmal Qayyum Ali Hanafiah and Shafiy Zaim.

For the girls’ side, Syazwani will compete with Gillian Lim, Puteri Nurul Dini Faudzi and Junaidi sisters Nurul Alyssa and Nurul Ayunni.

“We have been putting a lot of emphasis in the roll-off beginning last year. The roll-off is the best platform to rank all the bowlers and gauge their current consistency,” said MTBC secretary-general Maradona Chok.

“We are trying to push the standard of all our bowlers to the highest level, so everyone will be on their toes and not be complacent.

“Elite members are no longer guaranteed of their places in the official championships, and the door is always open for the back-up bowlers to impress the selectors.

The eight-member squad will be finalised by March 1. The team will go to Kuching for two weeks before the tournament to familiarise with the venue.

At the last edition in Manila in 2017, Tun Hakim contributed a gold in the boys’ singles as Malaysia returned with a haul of one gold, three silvers and a bronze to finish second overall to South Korea (7-1-2).