MLBF target six medals in Brunei Games

17/01/1999

THE Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) yesterday unveiled a three-year
programme, and their immediate target is six medals at Brunei Sea Games in
August.
"Winning six medals at the Sea Games is not beyond the reach of our
athletes because we have already developed a base during the Commonwealth
Games.
"The challenge will be to sustain the sport in the long run," said MLBF
president Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid yesterday.
The three-year programme, developed with the help of the National Sports
Council (NSC) who have also pledged to help financially, will be put to
test when the bowlers take to the Brunei greens.
"Thailand and Brunei have a long history in the sport but they are not
expected to pose any serious challenge. We are only wary of Singapore, who
have a good women's side."
Brunei do not have a lawn bowls stadium and the lack of natural greens
may force them to lay an artificial turf because of time constraints.
The national team took a break after the Commonwealth Games and will
only resume training after Hari Raya to prepare for the Sea Games in
August and the Asia Pacific championship which Malaysia will host in
September.
In the year 2000, there is the women's World Bowls in New South Wales,
Australia in March and the men's World Bowls in Johannesburg in April.
"We have decided to do away with centralised trainings and will instead
concentrate on weekend training, which is expected to be more fruitful.
For this year, we have marked 84 days for training at the Bukit Kiara
greens," said Ahmad Sarji.
A four-nation meet is also on the cards as well as a tour of Perth to
prepare for the Sea Games.
MLBF have decided to do away with foreign expertise on a full-time
basis.
For the three-year blueprint to produce results, MLFB will need at least
RM1 million.
(END)