MLBF Seeks Continuity Of Portable Rink Contractor Ahead Of Glasgow 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) hopes the portable rink facility currently used by the national squad at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara, will continue to be managed by the same contractor once it is relocated to a new venue in May.

Its president, Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz, said the facility, acquired from Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia (PSM) during last year’s World Cup, has proven to be an ideal preparation platform for the national athletes ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“As we know, this portable rink was acquired from PSM when the World Cup was held at Stadium Juara. However, the stadium does not belong to us, and the facility needs to be moved to another location.

“The plan is for athletes to resume training next week using the facility until Hari Raya,” he told Bernama after attending a working committee meeting in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

He stressed that retaining the same contractor is crucial to ensure consistency in the quality of the surface and technical specifications of the rink, particularly in the lead-up to the Games in Glasgow.

“This is because the tournament will use a portable rink with the same surface material and specifications. So it is very important for us,” he said.

According to him, PSM will relocate the portable rink to a new venue, which has yet to be finalised. In the meantime, the athletes will train at the regular rink in Bukit Kiara.

The national squad is also scheduled to compete in the Asian Lawn Bowls Championship in New Delhi in April, which will be held on an outdoor carpeted rink. As such, training sessions will be adjusted to suit the competition surface.

In addition, the national team will depart for Scotland early to participate in the Four Nations Test Series, as the portable rink is not expected to be ready for movement at that time.

“We have made a decision, and the National Sports Council (NSC) has agreed for us to leave a week early. After the series ends and the portable rink is ready to be moved, the squad will return to training on the facility until the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held from July 23 to Aug 2.

-- BERNAMA