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Bowling
lessons for special teens
By Lim Chia
Ying
STAR Saturday
June 9, 2007
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In
good hands: Loh handing a bowling ball to Tay (right) and Un
(second from right) to symbolise the partnership. |
THE Petaling District Tenpin Bowling Association (PDTBA)
and Community Development and Welfare Council (Mayang) have launched an
ambitious training programme for special teens.
PDTBA president Loh Seng Kok said they would select eight
youngsters with learning disabilities – autism, dyslexia, speech delay,
Down syndrome, or slow learners – for the programme.
“The youngsters will undergo two training sessions a week
for the next three months. They will be under the guidance of two
professional coaches,” said Loh.
Loh, who is also the Kelana Jaya MP and Mayang Kelana
Jaya chairman, said the programme’s main objective was to provide the
group of special teens with an opportunity to excel in sports.
“Mayang Kelana Jaya has been given an allocated amount of
money to run programmes for the youngsters. With proper systematic
training, we hope to help the players gain self-confidence, self-esteem,
professional skills, and self-discipline,” said Loh.
The second objective, he said, was to groom a pool of
potential bowling talents who can participate in local and international
bowling competitions.
“Usually, organisers run just a one-day programme but we
are looking at it on a long-term basis,” said Loh. “At the end of three
months, the youngsters would have gained bowling skills will become role
models to other special children as well.”
Mayang Kelana Jaya committee member Agnes Chin said the
selection process would give priority to highly functional special
children.
The two professional coaches given the responsibility to
head the programme are Micky Un Sze Shen and Joe Tay Teck Kheng.
Un certification level one coaching development programme
has by the National Sports Council, NSC. He has 15 years of bowling and
tournament experience and is currently a resident coach of the Pyramid
Megalanes team.
Tay also has the NSC level one coaching development
programme certification. He has 25 years of bowling and tournament
experience and is currently a coach of the Pyramid Megalanes junior
team.
Special children keen to be part of the programme must
hold the disabled person (OKU) registration card issued by the Community
Welfare Department.
Closing date for registration is June 11, after which
selections will be conducted.
For enquiries, call Agnes Chin (016-992 6988).
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