KUALA LUMPUR: After an impressive World Under-21 Championships debut, bowler Airel Amri Suhaimi will get to strut his stuff again at the Asian Under-18 Championships in Bangkok, which starts tomorrow.
Airel, who won the boys' doubles and mixed team's bronze in Sweden last month, was one of four Malaysian boys picked for the Asian Under-18 tournament. The others are Shaqeem Izwan Teh Shahrul Hafiz Teh, Syabil Azam Syamsul Azam and Izz Naqiuddin Putera Islahuddin.
Nurul Anis Nabila Nizam, Nur Aqila Aini Faiz Ahmed, Anis Hannani Romzi and Adania Redzwan make up the girls' squad.
Shaqeem and Nabila have also stood on the podium in Helsingborg by finishing third in the mixed team event.
Airel and Co will be tasked to continue Malaysia's dominance in the Asian tournament incepted in 1998. Despite skipping the last two editions in Taiwan (2018) and Hong Kong (2019), Malaysia led the all-time medal table with 42 gold, 33 silver and 28 bronze, ahead of nearest competitors Singapore (28-27-28) and Japan (28-20-25).
In 2017 in Kuching, Malaysia swept six of the 10 gold at stake with a team led by Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam and Gillian Lim.
"We have assembled our best under-18 bowlers available for the Bangkok meet," said Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress secretary-general Maradona Chok.
"Airel, Shaqeem and Nabila have had a good World Under-21 campaign recently, and they will be eager to put up another good showing."
Thirteen countries have signed up for the tournament, and Malaysia can expect stiff competition from the hosts and familiar foes such as Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines.
