By Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Megalanes Sarawak, Kuching, the venue for the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) tenpin bowling competition, now ranks among the country’s most advanced bowling centres after all 42 lanes were equipped with Specto system technology.
Sarawak tenpin bowling head coach Angelo Koay said Specto, developed by the US-based company Kegle, is a tracking system that records information about players' throws using high-powered sensors.
He said the information is displayed in an easy-to-use application, providing detailed input to coaches about players' performance on the lanes, including ball movement and consistency of throws.
"We installed it in 2017, but back then we only had it for 12 lanes, with the support from the Sarawak government. Right now we are the only bowling alley in the world fully equipped with Specto," he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama at Megalanes Sarawak recently.
According to Angelo, the system greatly enhances understanding of game patterns, ball movements and transitions, enabling coaches and athletes to identify weaknesses and achieve optimal performance during competitions.
"When we talk about the competitive side, there are many factors that we need to look at. The game has evolved so much ... so bowling right now is a target sport that requires speed and revolution. Specto helps us find out where the bowlers need to work.
"Whether it may be technically or physically or maybe up to the point of being the equipment setup. So the tracking is real-time; we can see the athlete throw the ball and the data will be out, from there we can help the athlete straight away," he said.
He said the system also displays ball movement and the accuracy of athletes' throws, helping coaches distinguish whether weaknesses are due to the athletes or their equipment.
"There are days when the athlete actually makes a pretty okay shot, but the data doesn’t look good. So, when you look at the results of the lane of the ball, it looks bad, but the bowlers actually did well, so with the system, we can differentiate that," he said.
Megalanes Sarawak, which also serves as the Sarawak Research and Training Centre (SRTC) for tenpin bowling, features a spacious and comfortable gymnasium, which makes it easier for coaches to conduct weight training.
The gymnasium, operated by the Amateur Tenpin Bowling Association of Sarawak (ABAS) with state government support, is equipped with facilities such as treadmills, exercise bikes, dumbbells and elliptical machines.
The facilities and technology at Megalanes Sarawak can attract outside teams including from overseas to train there, generating revenue and establishing Sarawak as a focal point for tenpin bowling development in the future.
The facilities at Megalanes Sarawak are fully utilised by the Land of the Hornbills tenpin bowling squad, comprising a mix of seasoned and new athletes, in their mission to defend their overall champion title for the fifth consecutive time in this edition of SUKMA.
Angelo hopes his team can win as many medals as possible to at least match the achievement of four golds, two silvers and four bronzes from the previous edition, during the competition scheduled from Aug 15 to 20.
"We are working very hard, so my target is, I hope they can get as many medals as possible. Best of all, everybody can get one. The reason is the medal symbolises the attachment to their hard work and the effort they put in for one and a half years," he said.
SUKMA 2024 will be staged in nine divisions - Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri - from Aug 17 to 24.
This edition will feature 37 sports with 488 events, comprising 236 men's events, 217 women's events and 35 mixed events. The biennial games are expected to gather 12,619 athletes and officials.
Introduced in 1986, SUKMA has been held in Sarawak twice, in 1990 and 2016.
-- BERNAMA
