KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) will be banking on Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple and Nor Farah Ain Abdullah to vie for glory for the country in the upcoming World Bowls Indoor Championship, set to take place in Guernsey.
Over 30 countries have qualified to compete in this year’s championship, which will kick off on April 21 and run through April 27.
The 32-year-old Izzat, who has a total of three Asian Lawn Bowls Championship gold medals (2018 in Xinxiang, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, and 2024 in Pattaya), will be competing in both the mixed pairs and men’s singles events.
Meanwhile, Farah, who recently won a silver medal in the Asian Lawn Bowls Championship, is expected to compete in both the mixed pairs and women’s singles events.
Speaking with Scoop, national lawn bowls head coach Zuraidi Puteh expressed admiration for both athletes’ commitment.
The Perak-born coach also praised his charges’ ability to balance their professional lives with their passion to bring glory to the country.
“Izzat and Farah have made significant progress and demonstrated commitment to the national team, so I have decided to include them in this year’s tournament.
“They are not full-time athletes, they are just part-timers, but the way they have never skipped any of their training sessions despite their heavy workload has impressed me a lot.
“My goal is for them to make the semi-finals, but deep down… I have a feeling they will win it because of the efforts they have put in over the last few weeks,” said Zuraidi when contacted.
According to the World Bowls Ranking, Malaysia’s men’s team is ranked fourth out of 65 countries, while the women’s team ranks fifth.
Under Zuraidi’s tutelage, Nur Ain Nabilah Tarmizi and Aleena Ahmad Nawawi made history by securing the country’s first women’s gold at the World Outdoor Championship last year, since the inception of the women’s pairs event in 1969. – April 11, 2024