Brunei for world meet in NZ

Lawn bowlers leave tomorrow for World Bowls C'ships

THE national lawn bowls team will be leaving for New Zealand tomorrow to compete in the 2008 World Bowls Championships in Christchurch at the Bowlside Bowling Club.

Qualifying for the 16-day tournament as one of the eight best countries in the Asia Pacific Championships last January, the men's team will most likely consist of Hj Osman Hj Yahya, Lokman Hj Mohd Salleh, Md Salleh Hitam, Mohd Israt Amiruddin Hj Abd Gani and Pg Md Salleh Chuchu Pg Hj Tuah.

The women's team which will probably be made up of Amp Hjh Lilymariani Amp Hj Salleh, Hjh Ajijah Muntol, Hjh Suhana Hj Mohd Daud, Isah Muntol and Norzainah Ahmad qualified for the trip of their lifetime as one of the seven best countries at last January's championships as well.

Both the men's and women's teams will be participating in the singles, pairs, triples and fours event.

The Fendalton and Papanui Bowling Clubs will play host to the early rounds of section play while the later stages will be contested at the three-green Burnside Bowling Club.

The bowlers will be at an advantage since the Burnside and Fendalton Bowling Clubs were the venues of the Asia Pacific Championships.

Hopefully the experience playing at the greens there last year which are known for their fast speeds will work to the national bowlers' advantage.

The last international tournament the national lawn bowls team competed in was the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Korat, Thailand, where they captured the men's singles crown and won bronze in the doubles.

Veteran bowler Hj Naim Brahim won the country's only gold in Korat when he defeated Singapore's Chia Tee Chiak 21-18.The Brunei Times