Singapore Bowling hosts New Year dinner

Singapore Bowling hosts New Year dinner

7th January, Singapore: SingaporeBowling hosted the new year dinner at Chef Daniel’s Kitchen where Cherie Tan was awarded Best Bowler of the Year 2011 for the second consecutive time after her stellar performance at last November’s SEA Games in Indonesia.

Almost 130 guests, staff and bowlers turned up for this annual occasion that SBF always use to thank their sponsors and partners, Canon, Dynasty, SIA, SSC, SNOC, media friends and others.

Best Youth Bowler of the year 2011 went to Kristin Quah and Cherie Tan was awarded Best Bowler of the Year 2011 for a second consecutive year. Deputy Head Coach Francis Yeo was commended for his Outstanding contribution to the sport. Each of them received a plaque and S$2,000 each.

With the 2014 Asian Games already in mind, and the Republic hosting the 2015 SEA Games, Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) president Jessie Phua has stressed the need for the proposed National Training Centre to be set up.Speaking at the SBF’s New Year dinner at Chef Daniel’s Kitchen at Iluma last night, where Tan, 23, was named Bowler of the Year for 2011, Phua said: “With Singapore staging the 2015 SEA Games, a lot of sports facilities are already in place, but not for bowling.

“We will (also) need a proper facility to continue our training. Our national developmental programmes have also been compromised by the lack of a National Centre.

“In the last few years, there have been 200 to 300 less lanes available at various bowling centres, and it is not realistic to expect these bowling operators to rent their lanes to us at the expense of walk-in customers as they are running a business.”

First reported by Today in December 2010, the proposed National Training Centre would include features like a 52-lane bowling centre, gyms, multi-purpose rooms, office space, a cafeteria and the SBF’s Centre of Excellence.

However, the project, estimated to cost at least S$5 million, has been on hold for a year after the SBF encountered problems sourcing for partners.

Looking ahead to the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, the SBF will track the progress of the national men’s and women’s teams on a more consistent and structured basis by implementing a quarterly report card system. Bowlers will be assessed on criteria such as performance, skills, aptitude and attitude.

More weightage will be placed on the men’s team, which is in a transitional phase with new faces like Keith Saw, 18, Eugene Low, 23, and Ng Chiew Pang, 18, being groomed. Promising bowlers from the second-tier national development squad will also be promoted to the senior side.

Photos by SingaporeBowling.