Asiad winner Kwang to take 2-year break

JUST two months after Valerie Teo quit competitive bowling, her Asian Games gold medal-winning partner is taking the same route.

Michelle Kwang, who partnered Teo to victory in the Asiad women's doubles in Doha last year, told the Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) of her decision to take a two-year break on Tuesday.

'I've decided to further my studies in Australia,' said the 21-year-old yesterday. 'After that, I'll decide whether or not to resume competitive bowling.'

She will pursue a two-year degree in sports and tourism management at Perth's Curtin University, starting in July.

Until then, the bespectacled Kwang will continue with her part-time coaching job in the Singapore Sports School's primary-schools outreach programme.

As for competitive bowling, she said: 'It will depend on whether I have the time in future, or whether a career opportunity arises.

'But, if there's a chance to represent Singapore again at the Asian or South-east Asia Games, I'll definitely consider it.'

Kwang had talked to her parents, Danny and Wendy, who run their own marine company, before deciding to leave the sport.

The news, arriving so soon after Teo's decision, comes as a blow to the fraternity, especially with the SEA Games scheduled for December.

In January, Teo, also 21, resigned from the national team to focus on her medical studies at the National University of Singapore.

Teo and Kwang are widely regarded as two of the Republic's best women bowlers. Along with Jennifer Tan, Evelyn Chan and Cherie Tan, they also finished third in the Asiad team event.

And with Chan, Jazreel Tan, Jennifer Tan and Alice Tay, Kwang took home the bronze in the 2005 SEA Games team event.

Younger keglers such as Jasmine Yeong-Nathan and Jazreel are now expected step up.

Said SBF president Jessie Phua: 'We'll all miss Michelle, who's a great team player. But we give her our full blessings.

'We're quietly confident that she will return after her studies because bowling's in her blood.'

Kwang's older brother, Alvin, 25, is also a former national bowler.

She counts last year's Doha gold as one of her most memorable triumphs.

The Asiad was not the only time she and Teo formed a winning combination. In 2004, they won the Asian Youth Bowling Championships doubles title. Kwang also picked up a singles bronze at the World Youth championships that year.

The decision to take a break had been on her mind for the past two years.

'Since I finished my sports and wellness management diploma at Nanyang Polytechnic, I've always wanted to further my studies,' she said.

'But I decided to wait for last year's Asian Games before deciding to leave bowling.

'Winning the Asiad gold is a good way for Valerie and I to bow out. We can now focus on the next phase of our lives.'

limze@sph.com.sg