Asia Pacific Bowls Championship

MEDIA RELEASE: 24 November 2003

BOWLS: Asia Pacific Bowls Championship - preview Brisbane, Queensland Monday 24 November 2003

GLASSON AND MURPHY CHASE ELUSIVE SINGLES GOLD

Australians Karen Murphy and Steve Glasson will be chasing an elusive singles gold medal from a major international event when they step onto the green for their first round matches in the Asia Pacific Bowls Championship at the Pine Rivers Memorial Bowls Club in Brisbane tomorrow (25/11).

Both players have represented Australia in the coveted singles role for several years and have come extremely close to snaring gold from a major event - but still have not secured the top prize.

For Murphy the latest heartache came at the 2002 Commonwealth Games where she was beaten by Malaysian Siti Zalina Ahmed in the final.

Two years earlier at World Bowls in Moama, Murphy had to settle for bronze.

"I've been up there in the major international events, but just haven't been able to crack a gold medal," Murphy said.

"I would love to win gold in this event, especially as it is being played in Australia."

"It is our first major international since last year's Commonwealth Games so I'm pretty fired-up to do well."

If Murphy is to claim gold she will have to overcome the talents of Ahmed, reigning Asia Pacific champion Marlene Castle of New Zealand and former world singles champion and three-times Asia Pacific champion Carmen Anderson representing the Philippines.

"It is a pretty hot field," Murphy said.

Murphy's first round clash is against the Cook Island's Kanny Vaile in the tournament's opening session of play starting at 5.00pm tomorrow (25/11).

For Glasson, the list of missed opportunities stretches back to 1999 when he finished with a bronze medal at the Asia Pacific Bowls Championship.

Then, at World Bowls 2000 in Johannesburg, Glasson had to settle for silver after Irishman Jeremy Henry beat him in the final.

At the last Asia Pacific championship Glasson again took bronze and at the Manchester Commonwealth Games he failed to get amongst the medals.

"I'm pretty keen to wrap-up a gold medal at this level," Glasson said.

"It is a pretty important event for me.

"On paper the major threats are the players from New Zealand, Hong Kong and Canada.

"Although you can't write anyone off. As we've seen in the past, players from the so-called developing countries can easily cause an upset."

Glasson meets Fijian Peter Thaggard in his first round clash.

Defending the men's singles title is Hong Kong bowler Noel Kennedy.

The preliminary rounds of the blue-ribbon singles events will be played from Tuesday 25 November to Thursday 27 November with the finals on Friday 28 November.

At the same time, the men's and women's fours competitions will be staged.

The Australian women's four comprises Lynsey Armitage, Helen Bosisto, Lee Poletti and Maria Rigby. Their first round clash is against the Cook Islands.

Australia's men's four is Bill Cornehls, Kelvin Kerkow, Kevin Walsh and Michael Wilks and their opening clash is against Hong Kong.

The 2003 Asia Pacific Bowls Championship features teams from 17 nations - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Thailand and USA.

The pairs and triples events will be played from Saturday 29 November and will conclude with the finals on Tuesday 2 December.

* * *

For further information: Philip Goslin - 0409 846 529

Return to list of media releases

 
www.APBOWLS.com

Website © Maxlink Media Services, 2003