Bracing up for a huge challenge

Allan Chia Sen Ang has been entrusted with the task of preparing Indian tenpin bowling team for the forthcoming Asian Games, to be held in Guangzhou from November 12 to 27. India will have to quell some top class opponents to make their mark, but the Malayasian is confident of his wards’ ability.
“I have been roped in because the Tenpin Bowling Federation (India) believes I have the technical expertise to help develop the youngsters,” said Allan, during a conversation with Deccan Herald.

“The most important agenda would be the 2010 Asian Games (November 12-27). It is too early to make a prediction as I am yet to see the complete squad. But, little of what I have seen them in Malaysia, I am confident, if not this edition, India has the potential to win a few medals in bowling discipline at the 2014 Asian Games.”
Allan, who began bowling in school largely for recreation before taking it up professionally, first met TBFI President Karti P Chidambaram and Secretary General R Kannan in Malaysia during the Indian team’s exposure trip in 2009.
Then the Malaysian coach, Allan was requested by his national federation to assist the Indians and impart some knowledge. Soon, an offer was made and Allan accepted that after consideration. “During my brief interaction with the Indian team, Kannan asked if I was interested in coaching India. It came as a shock. I was settled well with the Malaysia team and had not much clue about India. It took some introspection, but considered it as it gives me an opportunity to bring about a change in a sport that is treated more as a recreation than a professional one,” added Allan.

The 39-year-old Allan’s first success arrived at the 1989 Coca Cola Cup where he won the Masters category final. With several Malaysian inter-state medals in his kitty, the bespectacled coach was crowned the Masters champion at the 1989 Kent All-Stars International Open before claiming the singles gold at the same event six years later. His performance hit peak in 1992 when he won three gold and a silver at the Malaysian Games, doubles bronze at World FIQ Youth Championship in Caracas and the championship title at the Chinese Taipei Open. However, Allan finally had to make a brutal decision to stop bowling despite enjoying success until the late 90’s.
“At that time, bowling was not a salaried sport. While most schools had bowling as a sport in their curriculum, one would not paid by the federation for representing the nation. It was hard to survive. So, at the turn of the century I decided to quit the sport and took up a daily job. However, things turned for the better after Malaysian bowling federation decided it would begin to pay the bowlers as well coaching staff. I immediately quit the job and took up coaching course before taking charge of the national team in 2007,” said Allan.

Coaching success
Allan’s success extended to coaching too. At the 20th Asian Tenpin Bowling Championship in Hong Kong, he steered the men’s team to two gold and three silver and women’s team to a gold and silver. At the Asian Indoor Games last year in Vietnam, Malaysian men claimed a silver while the women won a silver and a bronze.
“My coaching profile is not as glittering as some Americans or South Koreans where the sport has good following,” felt Allan. “However, I have got a good chance of turning it around in India. My main focus would be to create a bigger talent base. As I said earlier, my introduction is more for technical purposes. The entire year is packed with camps in Bangalore and Malaysia as well a handful of tournaments.
“It gives me ample time to understand the players individually and share knowledge personally. I would train them on the right way of gripping the ball, the release and the choice of balls.
“While you can learn the art following consistent practice, replicating it in crunch moments at matches is what separates winners,” observed Allan.