KUCHING: With the women’s team event set to be the main battleground, Nur Hazirah Ramli is confident Malaysia can once again assert their regional dominance at the 33rd SEA Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 22-year-old national bowler said the team event has always been regarded as the sport’s premier contest, with all countries targeting the coveted gold.
“This is the main event everyone will be gunning for, and it’s no different for us.
“Like every tournament, this will always be another stepping stone and a learning curve in the process for me to grow further into being a better sportswoman in bowling,” she told Sarawak Tribune when contacted recently.
Malaysia, she noted, has consistently been among the strongest bowling nations in Southeast Asia since the sport’s inclusion in the Games.
“Although our medal prospects are good, especially for the gold, we are not complacent about the task ahead.
“I have done the best possible preparation and I’m excited to contribute to the team and the country,” she said.
Hazirah who hails from Kuching expects stiff competition from familiar regional forces.
“The usual medal suspects that come to mind are Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. They are the challenges we must overcome if we want to be at the pinnacle at the end of the day,” she added.
Malaysia’s bowling squad is currently finalising preparations as they aim to continue the nation’s proud tradition on the lanes in Thailand, with Hazirah set to travel on Dec 12 ahead of the event’s start on Dec 13.
