Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bulqiah is gunning for a spot on the women's national softball team.

The Brunei Amateur Softball and Baseball Association (BASBA) held the women's national softball team trials at the Jerudong Polo Club field in Jerudong yesterday and HRH was among the 32 hopefuls vying for the 17 openings on the roster.

HRH, who is a regular namesake in the netball scene lacing up for Ivy League, was delighted to be trying out for a slot.

"I just came to try it out because I love sports. I have a cousin (Md Yazid DP Hj Yaakub) who plays for the Gunners team as well," said HRH in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.

"I have played before and wasn't into it until recently where I joined a tournament playing for the Divas. So far I love it and I'm enjoying myself," she added.

Abdul Kani Sapian, the national softball coach, was also impressed by the showing of HRH.

"She is very talented and showed that she has got a lot of skills. She has got good speed and agility as well," said Abdul Kani.

"She went through all the tests with good results but the only thing that is lacking now is game experience," added the 46-year-old.

The former national softball player was also delighted with the turnout and felt that they have got a good pool of talent.

"We are lacking outfield players and we are looking for some fast runners and strong pitchers," said Abdul Kani, who joined the national team in 1984 before he became a national coach in 2008.

"We had a good pool of players come to try out but there is still polishing up to do at training once we confirm the team," he continued.

The ladies were put through five different tests with the first to check up on speed the second on agility and reflex, third on throwing accuracy, fourth on power while the last tests on batting and game coordination.

According to BASBA secretary-general Wan Mohd Tambrin Shah, the main objective of the trials is to form the team for the upcoming 39th Malaysian National Open Softball Championships which will be scheduled from April 11-14 in Johor, Malaysia.

The ladies team returned home with the bronze in the 38th edition of the competition.

"We want to have the best players in the national squad and we are also looking at being best prepared for the 1st Southeast Asian (SEA) Softball Championships which we will host in October," said Wan Mohd Tambrin.

Next on the calendar will be a local league organised by the Gunners which will begin on March 3 and set to run till May.

Six men's teams and three women's teams are set to compete for top honours. Invitations have also been sent to have a team from Miri, Sarawak participate.

Courtesy from Brunei Times