Siti Hopes To Bounce Back After Suspension

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- After missing the World Lawn Bowls championships in Warilla, Australia due to an 18-month suspension slapped by the Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF), former world number one Siti Zalina Ahmad hopes to make up for that loss by qualifying for the next championships.

Siti Zalina who has since slipped to third in the world rankings, was happy that the MLBF had lifted her suspension on April 10.

"I am determined and excited to resume training and I want to recapture the world number one ranking and the title as well," she told Bernama here today.

Siti Zalina and team-mate Norhashimah Ismail were both suspended for 18 and 12 months respectively by the MLBF for indiscipline, while undergoing centralised training at the Bukit Kiara National Lawn Bowls centre on Oct 26, 2008.

She added that though it was a very tough and trying period (suspension), it did not dampen her spirit and continued to train on her own throughout her short suspension period.

The suspension also deprived Siti Zalina, a corporal in the police force, a spot in the Asia Pacific Bowling Championships that will be held at Bukit Kiara in August.

She added that her first competition upon her 'return' will be the National Lawn Bowls Pairs Championships in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on May 27 where she will be representing PDRM.

The 30-year-old believes and accepts what had happened (suspension) as destiny but assured that it would not disrupt her focus on her set goal - that of to win a world title, she said.

-- BERNAMA

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