PETALING JAYA: Can Sin Li Jane strike it right again in the singles event of the Asian Championships after a lapse of 11 years?
The 30-year-old certainly looks good to end her long wait. After all, it is being held at the same place where she last won.
Blast from the past: Sin Li Jane is looking good to repeat her Asian Championships feat in Hong Kong 11 years ago.
The Asian meet will begin with the men and women’s singles competition on Tuesday at the SCAA Bowling Centre in Hong Kong.
Li Jane emerged as the champion in the 2012 edition in Hong Kong but have finished third in all the last three editions in 2015 (Thailand), 2016 (Hong Kong) and 2019 (Kuwait) to underline her consistent performances. At the last edition in Kuwait in 2019, Shalin Zulkifli came out tops.
“It has been four years since we last competed in the Asian meet but I believe the challengers will be the same again,” said Li Jane.
“I won it long ago but at the same place.”
South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and the hosts will be her stumbling blocks again but Li Jane is more concerned with her own preparation.
“I’ve done all the usual stuff, same practice, same approach and just hope to be good in every game,” she said.
The only difference for Li Jane is that she will be competing without Holloway Cheah as the head coach. The old-timer has passed the coaching mantle to Ben Heng.
“I’ve also been working with coach Ben for some time, so nothing much has changed. We’ll just miss Sir Holloway, as he has always been with us.”
It’s not easy to remain consistent year after year but Li Jane has a way of calming herself down before any major event.
“I listen to pop songs, I don’t have any favourites though, but just listening to them calms my nerves,” she said.
Li Jane and Co have landed in Hong Kong on Friday with a mission to repeat another successful haul in the Asian meet.
Malaysian emerged as the overall champions with a medal haul of 6-1-4.
“We had our first unofficial practice session. All is good here,” said Li Jane.
The others in the team are Esther Cheah, Natasha Roslan, Gillian Lim, Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal and Puteri Nurul Dini Mohd Faudzi.
The men are Timmy Tan, Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, Ahmad Muaz Fishol and Syazirol Shamsudin.
Li Jane won the trios gold with Shalin Zulkifli and Esther at the last edition. Esther also took home the Masters gold.
Timmy was on fire as he won the singles, All-Events and trios with Rafiq and Syafiq.
