WiPers Squad To Field 10 New Faces, Targets Two Bowling Gold

By Farah Najihah Zuraimi

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Despite lining up as many as 10 new faces at the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak, the Federal Territories tenpin bowling team (WiPers) still have big dreams of bringing home two gold medals at the biennial games.

Team coach Steven Teng said the two gold medals were targeted through the trios and team events in the men's category, but admitted that his men would face stiff competition from the state tenpin bowling camps of Penang, Selangor, Johor and host Sarawak.

"We will participate in all 11 contested events and a total of 10 new faces will be fielded. I started training them after Hari Raya Aidilfitri ended last year and sent many of them to participate in domestic tournaments to gain experience.

"We sent them to about five or six tournaments apart from undergoing training at Sunway Megalanes, Petaling Jaya and I was also assisted by Alisha Iman Cheong Abdullah as an assistant coach," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

The men's category will comprise Shaqeem Izwan Teh Shahrul Hafiz Teh and Ahmad Azriq Izamudin, who have participated in the 2022 edition besides Muhd ​​Aiman ​​Farhan Nor Fuzi, Muhd ​​Amin Syimir Safri, Amin Zulkarnain Zulkifli and Syabil Azam Syamsul Azam, who will make their first appearance in the Games.    

Meanwhile, the women's category will be represented by Zara Deliza Mohd Kamarul Azizi, Dhia Irdina Zahra Mohd Hazrin, Balqis Nurdini Mohd Khairul, Ng Ai Shan, Haiffa Hazlan and Nur Aisyah Abd Rahim.

The 21st edition of SUKMA will see 11 tenpin bowling events being contested, namely singles, doubles, trios, teams, masters, for men's and women's categories as well as mixed doubles which will take place at Megalanes Emart, Batu Kawa in Kuching.

SUKMA Sarawak 2024 will open on August 17 to 24 2024 involving nine divisions namely Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri with competition in 37 types of sports.

Bernama yesterday reported that Federal Territories Sports Council (MSWP) director Nik Ahmad Zahiruddin Nik Saleh said his contingent has a two-pronged mission which is to reach the target of 70 gold medals and take the top two position in the medal tally to improve the achievement of SUKMA 2022 at third overall placing with 55 gold , 68 silver and 64 bronze.

-- BERNAMA