Holloway doesn't want a sequel to 2006 By Ajitpal Singh
06/21/08
Will the ghost of 2006 return to haunt the current batch of bowlers preparing for back-to-back tournaments -- the Asian Championships in Hong Kong (July 2-12) and World Youth Championships in the United States (July 18-23)?
National coach Holloway Cheah (pictured) remembers the day when he led the national junior squad to the world junior title in Germany in 2006 but almost the same set of keglers failed miserably at the Asian Championships in Indonesia, two weeks later.
The women, who delivered most of the four gold, one silver and three bronze won in Germany, failed to deliver a single medal in the Asian meet.
This time around, Adrian Ang, Aaron Kong, Muhd Nur Aiman, Esther Cheah and Zandra Aziela have been given the task to compete in both tournaments, where the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) expects them to make an impact.
Except for Nur Aiman, the rest competed in both tournaments in 2006.
Holloway admitted the bowlers were exhausted after winning the world junior title in 2006.
"It's not easy preparing athletes for back-to-back tournaments. I hope the 2006 horror will not happen again," said Holloway at the Endah Parade Bowling Centre in Sri Petaling yesterday.
"However, the bowlers are more experienced now in handling pressure and stress. As a precautionary measure, the bowlers are now attending psychological training sessions at the National Sports Institute (NSI)."
Holloway has also increased the bowlers' training hours, where they are now spending six hours at the lanes.
"I don't want to leave any stone unturned. They are currently being drilled on all aspects of the game. I believe they will be prepared to make an impression in both events."
The squad leave for Hong Kong on June 30.
Malaysia
New Straits Times - Persekutuan, Malaysia (June 20, 2008)
Will the ghost of 2006 return to haunt the current batch of bowlers preparing for back-to-back tournaments -- the Asian Championships in Hong Kong (July 2-12) and World Youth Championships in the United States (July 18-23)?National coach Holloway Cheah (pictured) remembers the day when he led the national junior squad to the world junior title in Germany in 2006 but almost the same set of keglers failed miserably at the Asian Championships in Indonesia, two weeks later.
The women, who delivered most of the four gold, one silver and three bronze won in Germany, failed to deliver a single medal in the Asian meet.
This time around, Adrian Ang, Aaron Kong, Muhd Nur Aiman, Esther Cheah and Zandra Aziela have been given the task to compete in both tournaments, where the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) expects them to make an impact.
Except for Nur Aiman, the rest competed in both tournaments in 2006.
Holloway admitted the bowlers were exhausted after winning the world junior title in 2006.
"It's not easy preparing athletes for back-to-back tournaments. I hope the 2006 horror will not happen again," said Holloway at the Endah Parade Bowling Centre in Sri Petaling yesterday.
"However, the bowlers are more experienced now in handling pressure and stress. As a precautionary measure, the bowlers are now attending psychological training sessions at the National Sports Institute (NSI)."
Holloway has also increased the bowlers' training hours, where they are now spending six hours at the lanes.
"I don't want to leave any stone unturned. They are currently being drilled on all aspects of the game. I believe they will be prepared to make an impression in both events."
The squad leave for Hong Kong on June 30.