Bowling's new home a game-changer
New bowling centre offers much more than lanes
Flashing disco lights and thumping beats filled SingaporeBowling@Rifle Range last night, before local band 53A rocked the crowd on a makeshift stage set on the lanes.
It was a grand opening for a facility that Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) president Jessie Phua hopes will showcase more than sport, replete with an innovative tool in place to help anyone improve their game.
The SBF received an innovation grant of about $150,000 from the Singapore Sports Institute last week and intends to install the Dartfish technology on all 38 lanes by the end of the month.
The state-of-the-art video analysis technology will help bowlers up their game, and Phua said: "If I am in a school or centre of excellence training aspiring bowlers I definitely want to come here and use this facility because I can use the (video) recording to check on the progress of my bowlers.
TOOLS
"These are tools out there, and they should not be only for the national bowlers. If the rest of the Singapore bowling community gets better, we are in a position to recruit better bowlers."
The new facility, officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean last night, is the national sports association's first step towards financial independence.
Phua previously said she is aiming to set up three centres to achieve that goal.
Last night, she revealed that the centres will also be set up to host events like corporate family days and dinner and dance functions.
She said: "How much can I really sell one (bowling) game for?
"But if I value add, if I tell people... we can be your D&D destination, or one for a company weekend event, with those kind of events, I can charge a lot more.
"My creativity is factored in... that would help us work our way towards financial independence."
On the new facility, DPM Teo said: "The (national bowlers) now have a dedicated place to train, and they are able to put in all the training systems that the coaches can use for analytics."
On SBF's goal of financial independence, he said: "It may not be done for all sports, but where it is possible I think it's most commendable."
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