Esther may give Korat a miss, Trish in line By Ajitpal Singh

Esther Cheah could give the Korat Sea Games (Dec 6-15) a miss due to studies and exams which opens the door for national back-up bowler Trish Khoo (pictured) to be considered as a replacement.

Esther is pursuing a three-year degree programme in psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the United States. National coach Holloway Cheah, who is also Esther's father, said his daughter's exam is scheduled for just a couple of days after the Sea Games.

"It may be too hectic for Esther to fly back to the US right after the Sea Games, and if any bowler in the back-up squad, especially Trish Khoo, can make an impression in the Singapore Open and Taiwan Open (Oct 6-13), then we (Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress) may opt not to select her (Esther)," said Holloway yesterday.

"However, if we decide to pick Esther, it still be tough to get a release from her university.

"We are considering all options before we finalise the Sea Games squad after the Taiwan Open."

Trish, 20, who is only in her first year under the back-up programme, is being considered for the Sea Games following her sterling performances in the Thailand Open Youth Championships in May and Indonesia Open in August.

Trish won the Thailand Youth event and, surprisingly, finished second in her first senior outing in Indonesia.

Holloway said he is also considering her (Trish) as she is the only spinner bowler in the national team.

"The lane conditions in the Korat Sea Games could be conducive to spinners instead of hook bowlers.

"However, she needs to impress in Singapore, Taiwan and the Asian Indoor Games in Macau (Oct 26- Nov 3)."

But nothing is confirmed and Holloway said the door is still open for the other bowlers in the back-up squad to fight for Sea Games spots. Esther and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman have opted to skip the Singapore and Taiwan Opens, while Choy Poh Lai has been dropped from both tournaments after failing to impress in the Women's World Championships in Mexico earlier this month.

However, Holloway said Esther, Poh Lai and Siti Safiyah will still be considered for the Sea Games.

Bowlers under the elite programme heading for the Singapore and Taiwan Opens are Alex Liew, Aaron Kong, Adrian Ang, Daniel Lim, Mohd Noer Said, Zulmazran Zulkifli (men), Wendy Chai, Shalin Zulkifli, Sharon Koh and Zandra Aziala (women).

Back-up bowlers heading for both tournaments are Zaid Izlan, Isaac Russel Paul, Jonathan Lim, Nir Aiman, Syafiq Ridhwan, Shayhereza Fajrin (men), Trish, Zatil Iman, Sin Li Jane, Noor Syakirah Yeoh, Wan Nur Atiqqa and Nor Hanizah Abdul Rahman (women).