KUALA LUMPUR — The New Year may have only just begun, but Malaysia’s national bowlers are swinging into 2025, fired up and ready to blaze the lanes at the IBF World Cup in Hong Kong this week.
Following a historic performance at the Asian Championships in Bangkok last year, the team is brimming with confidence and eager to set the tone early for what promises to be a long and challenging year full of major events.
Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary-general Maradona Chok described the squad as “the strongest in history” and highlighted the incredible motivation driving the bowlers.
“The team truly believes in themselves. I haven’t seen such confidence in the whole team ever,” Maradona remarked.
The eight-bowler lineup features Asia’s top-ranked men’s and women’s kegglers, Rafiq Ismail and Sin Li Jane, alongside reigning world champion Natasha Roslan and rising star Gillian Lim.
Supporting them are seasoned campaigners Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, Timmy Tan, Ahmad Muaz Fishol, and Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam.
Maradona was full of praise for the entire squad, emphasising their individual strengths.
“Rafiq and Jane are Asia’s best, but every member of this team is ready to deliver. Natasha enters as the reigning world champion, while Gillian is the hottest youngster, eager to prove herself. Hakim loves the big stage and always steps up when it matters most,” he said.
For some, this tournament is personal. Siti Safiyah, Timmy, and Muaz are determined to bounce back and reaffirm their reliability.
“All eight bowlers are fighters. Each has something to prove, and I’ve never seen this level of motivation across the whole team before,” Maradona added.
The World Cup marks the start of a pivotal year for Team Malaysia, with the World Championships, SEA Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games also on the calendar later this year.
The squad’s stellar 2024 campaign – capped by a record eight gold medals, five silvers, and four bronze at the Asian Championships – has set the stage for even greater achievements in 2025.
Though the team will be without head coach Ben Heng, who is on medical leave, the players are determined to press ahead. The two coaches accompanying them on the trip are Gerald Samuel and Wendy Chai. — January 1, 2025