PH Lawn Bowls Team set to defend gold medal next month

In the recently concluded PSA forum yesterday, head coach and tournament director Ronalyn Redima Greenlees is confident that the country’s hosting of the event will be up to the challenge in trying to defend the gold medals in the men’s pair and women’s singles events. Eight golds in singles, pairs, triples and fours (men and women) will be at stake in the event. 

According to Greenlees, lawn bowls has been in the country for over two decades, and was played in the 2019 Manila SEA Games where the hosts won one gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

The Philippine lawn bowls is set to host the 16th Asian Lawn Bowls Championships next month.

The said competition is scheduled on April 27 to May 4 at the Clark Bowling Greens in Clark, Pampanga, in which Twelve countries will field entries, including Malaysia, Iran, Brunei, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Macau, South Korea and China.

Unfortunately, the sport that was born in Great Britain, was not included in the calendar of the Thailand SEA Games in December.

Greenlees also said that Filipinos are ranked No. 10 in the world and have had victories in the Asia-Pacific level.

“Kilala na kami sa mundo. Dito lang sa Pilipinas hindi. Full support sila,” she said, citing the full support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Clark Development Corporation for the hosting of the Asian meet.

Rodel Labayo, back-to-back gold medalist in the pairs event along with partner Elmer Abatayo, said winning a third straight gold is their primary objective.

“Gusto namin dito sa Pilipinas mag three-peat,” Labayo said 

Rosita Bradborn, on the other hand, will try to defend her title in women’s singles. She won the gold last year in Thailand after a couple of silver-medal finishes.

“Nag-tiyaga kami ng husto sa training para manalo ulit,” said Bradborn. 

Despite the challenges, the Philippine lawn bowls team is determined to showcase their skills in the upcoming Asian Championships.