Holloway: Too early to name Asian Games team

PETALING JAYA: The women’s national elite bowling squad are in excellent form in their run-up to the Asian Games in November but chief coach Holloway Cheah thinks it is still too early to name the team for the assignment in Guangzhou.

Last month, back-up squad’s Sin Li Jane, who has been with the elite bowlers since January, raised eyebrows when she won the Singapore International Open title in the company of more experienced campaigners.

And two days ago, Sharon Koh won the Macau Open title, defeating Indonesian Putty Armein in the title match.

“If you ask me to pick the bowlers now, definitely Li Jane and Sharon will be in the squad,” said Holloway.

“But there is still a lot of time before November and we want the bowlers to be at their best during the Asiad, not before it.”

In Macau, besides Sharon, Wendy Chai also made it to the stepladder Finals as the sixth seed but failed to clear the first stage.

Shalin Zulkifli finished 14th while Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi finished three rungs below and Esther Cheah took 21st spot.

In the men’s competition, Zulmazran Zulkifli and Adrian Ang made it to the stepladder Finals and finished in third and fifth places respectively.

Holloway added that the improvements, especially among the women’s bowlers, should be a boost for them ahead of the Asiad and they should not rest on their laurels.

“Competitions are like exams for them. They train before they go for their exams and coaches will evaluate them based on their results,” he said.

“The outings in Macau were very good ones indeed for the bowlers, even for the men. We are on the right track to the Asian Games.”

The next assignment for the national elite bowlers is the Indonesia Open from July 9-17.