The National Junior Lawn Bowls team with the President of Brunei Darussalam National Lawn Bowls Association, Haji Zaman bin Haji Jamahat. – FADHIL YUNUS
A TOTAL of 15 players including five male, six ladies and four juniors will be representing Brunei Darussalam in the 12th Asian Lawn Bowls and under 25 Championships in New Delhi, India which will begin from October 4 to 9.
Brunei Darussalam will be looking for a strong showing and emulate similar success that they achieved during the last edition when they became hosts.
The Asian-level competition will also provide the perfect opportunity especially the junior athletes to showcase their talents on the regional scene with thoughts of the Commonwealth Games in April next year.
The national lawn bowls team will be eying for medals in all fronts including the singles, pairs, triples and fours events to open their case for representation in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Part of the four-member junior team is debutant 20-year old Niswan Mujibah binti Haji Hasnan who will be hoping to achieve at least a bronze medal.
She has been tested as far as the Labuan International tournaments as part of the junior setup and will be hoping to make her presence known.
Joining her will be SEA Games bronze medallist Norafizah binti Matossen, 22-year old Muhd Halifi bin Haji Amli and 24-year old Muhd Waie bin Ahmad.
Norafizah, who is just 17, is a rising sensation and has already won a medal in the Asian Lawn Bowls in Brunei last year.
It is understood that the underlying criteria of eligibility in joining major competitions such as the Commonwealth Games is based on the country’s ability to win a medal in the last two years.
For instance, an athlete, subject to selection, is likely to be nominated for the major event if they win a medal in a recognised competition at similar strength as the said major event as opposed to winning a medal exceeding the two-year period.
A total of 10 countries will be involved in the competition namely Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Pakistan, Hong Kong, China, Brunei, Sri Lanka, host nation India and favourites Malaysia.
Brunei’s female lawn bowls athlete Amaliah Matali, will be hoping to go one better in the Women’s Singles after fellow compatriot Dayangku Nurul Nabilah binti Pengiran Md Salleh Chuchu clinched silver in the previous edition.
Brunei’s previous overseas Asian Lawn Bowls meet was in Shenzhen in China in 2014.
