No place for veteran bowler Alex in SEA Games squad.
Veteran bowler alex not in men’s squad for Sea Games
PETALING JAYA: Shalin Zulkifli heaved a sigh of relief after her inclusion for the Philippines SEA Games but another fellow veteran Alex Liew may have just missed out on what could be his last appearance in the biennial Games.
The 43-year-old southpaw failed to make the four-member men’s squad as the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) opted for young guns Rafiq Ismail, Timmy Tan, Ahmad Muaz Fishol and Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam.
Alex made his SEA Games debut when Malaysia played host in 2001 and has since competed every time except for Laos 2009 and Myanmar 2013 when the sport wasn’t contested.
He boasts 14 SEA Games medals under his belt – seven golds, five silvers and two bronzes.
In Kuala Lumpur two years ago, Alex clinched the men’s doubles gold with Syafiq and a bronze in the Masters event.
Despite missing out on his seventh consecutive Games appearance, Alex wasn’t disheartened.
“I saw it coming,” said Alex, the double gold medallist at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
“As much as I was hoping to continue my SEA Games streak to seven, I knew it was difficult from the start after host Philippines made changes to the competition. The number of entries for the team event are limited to just four.
“Be it my tournament results or the internal roll-offs, it clearly showed that I was not up to the mark to be in the top four. Those boys who got selected, they certainly deserved their places.
“They are going to bring glory to the nation, I have no doubt about that.”
Although Alex gives no indication that he’s retiring anytime soon, it’s unlikely he will get to play in the SEA Games again in the near future.
Bowling is unlikely to feature in either the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam or 2023 in Cambodia.
Last year’s world championships doubles gold medallist Adrian Ang and former World Cup champion Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek were the other two notable absentees, suggesting that a change of guard is imminent.
Having also missed out on the recent Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in Kuwait, Alex has vowed to fight to regain his spot in the team next year.
“I will try to bounce back next year. I can still bowl at the highest level.
“This year I had my ups and downs because of my tennis elbow and back injuries.
“I’m feeling better recently but it’s already too late.
“But it’s good to see the young guys are slowly taking over from us. I’m actually happy because we have built a formidable young squad to continue Malaysia’s legacy in the sport.
“So it’s okay if I have to fight for my place for a major tournament. The healthy competition will only make the team stronger.”
But it’s good to see the young guys are slowly taking over from us. I’m actually happy because we have built a formidable young squad to continue Malaysia’s legacy in the sport. Alex Liew