| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam’s lawn bowl team is aiming to demonstrate a good show and give a good name to the country in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4-15.
The country will be represented by five male players – Abdul Rahman Omar, Ampuan Ahad bin Ampuan Kasim, Pengiran Haji Tengah bin Pengiran Haji Tejudin, Haji Naim bin Brahim and Israt Amiruddin bin Haji Abdul Ghani and three female players – Amaliah Haji Matali, Suhana binti Md Daud and Hajah Ajijah binti Muntol.
Abdul Rahman will play the men’s singles in the competition while Amaliah will compete in the women’s singles while the women’s pairs include Hajah Suhana and Hajah Ajijah.
The men’s pairs comprise Ampuan Ahad as lead and Pengiran Haji Tengah as skip. The duo will fancy their chances of medalling after a strong show at the Southeast Asian Games level and the Asian Championships level.
Haji Naim, Israt and Abdul Rahman will be making the team for the men’s triples while the men’s fours include Ampuan Ahad, Haji Naim, Pengiran Haji Tengah and Israt.
Brunei Darussalam’s men singles competitor Abdul Rahman has been handed a tough draw in Section ‘C’ alongside defending champion Darren Burnett from Scotland and World Cup Singles Indoors Championship silver medallist Muhammad Soufi Rusli from Malaysia.
The experienced national bowler will be hoping to add a Commonwealth Games to his collection of international honours which include a gold medal at the Asian Championships in 2002 and a bronze in the 2016 World Champions of Champions.
“As with every athlete, I am hoping for success. I will compete with a fighting spirit and to give my best and if we succeed in winning medals, it will be a bonus for us both as individuals and Brunei Darussalam,” said Abdul Rahman in an interview at the Lawn Bowls Centre of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex recently.
The national squad has been actively training in preparation for the Commonwealth Games since November 2017.
National lawn bowler Suhana, who with Hajah Ajijah has been grouped with Scotland, Malaysia, Cook Islands and Botswana, expressed her delight to be chosen in the team and has set an immediate aim of reaching the second round of the competition.
“I feel happy and grateful to be able to represent Brunei Darussalam at the Commonwealth Games,” said Suhana.
“Our aim is to reach the second round first and after that we can think about reaching the semi-final,” she added.
She stressed on the importance of keeping calm at the venue, especially when they are facing giants such as Malaysia and Scotland.
Meanwhile, head coach Haji Lokman bin Haji Mohd Salleh expressed his hope that the national squad will provide a firm challenge to the participating countries such as Malaysia, Scotland, and New Zealand as well as host nation Australia, who he said will be the main threat.
“Our preparations have actually started from the SEA Games after we took a month-long rest,” the head coach said.
“We are prepared to take part in the Commonwealth Games and the pitch there in Gold Coast will be quicker.
“I hope the players can show a good fighting spirit and can compete against the participating teams in the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
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