Jacqueline eyes podium finish
by Ting Tieng Hee. Posted on June 19, 2011, Sunday
MIRI: National bowler Jacqueline Jenelee Sijore from Kuching is expected to finish on the podium in the Sarawak Closed Bowling Championship and the Megalanes East Invitational Championship at Megalanes East Bowling Centre today.
PINS STRIKE: Jacqueline in action at the Bowling Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in January this year.
The 19-year-old Bidayuh lass topped the qualifying list in the women’s division of both events with a high score of 752 pins on Friday evening.
Another national bowler Dayang Khairunisa Dhiyana Abg Jamaliddon who was released along with Jacqueline from national training, has also qualified with 701 pinfalls for the Sarawak Closed Youth Girls and Megalanes East Invitational.
“I am aiming to finish among the top three in both categories and I am quite confident off doing well on tomorrow,” she said in an interview yesterday.
She is not worried about being beaten by Dayang Khairunisa because they were not only national teammates but have been friends and state teammates for a long time.
“Winning or losing is part of the game and we should not feel unhappy or disappointed as long as you have given your best. I would be happy if she wins and vice versa,” she said, adding that the spirit of sportsmanship mattered more than just winning.
Admitting that there is pressure to do well in any tournament after being promoted to the national squad in January this year, Jacqueline said she will face the game with a cool and calm approach.
“Putting too much pressure on yourself will cause you to perform poorly,” she pointed out.
She is happy with her achievements thus far this year but added that it could be better.
Jacqueline took up bowling when she was ten years old. She won the Girls Graded title at the Sportexcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit in 2003.
She has since won a string of titles both in the MSSM championship and at Sukma,and was roped into the national youth team in 2007.
Last year, she was promoted to the national back-up team and the national team in January this year.
Jacqueline won the women’s doubles silver and women’s trios silver at the Asian Bowling Championship in Abu Dhabi, UAE in January this year.
She competed in the Interstate Championship at Sunway Megalanes in March where she won the women’s singles, doubles and team golds and All Events silver.
At the Euro Brunswick Challenge in Paris in March, she finished eighth and was seventh in the Women’s Open at the Canon Malaysian Open in May.
Jacqueline also took part in the National Closed Championship and the Singapore Open this year but did not fare well in both events.
She will be looking to undergo a selection trial with elite national bowlers for the San Marino Open, Catalonia Open and Indonesian Open which are back-to-back tournaments in July.
“My dream is become a world champion one day and I want to emulate national bowler Shalin Zulkifli’s success,” she said.
To achieve this dream, Jacqueline is prepared to make sacrifices such as putting in more time for training and at the same time cope well with extra co-curriculum activities.
“It also takes sheer determination, positive attitude, high discipline, persistency and consistency to become a good bowler,” she said.
According to her, she is able to cope with her studies and training well and time management was very important.
“I study in the morning, train in the afternoon after which I also go to the gym for physical conditioning sessions,” said the Sunway College student who is now pursuing a Degree in Engineering.
