Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) is utilizing two significant tournaments-the Asian Lawn Bowls Championship in New Delhi and a series of test matches in preparation for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games this April-as the selection platform for top athletes to represent the nation at the prestigious games.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, PLBM President Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz stated that the governing body has not yet finalized the lineup of players, as all players have demonstrated impressive performances in previous championships. The federation has submitted a long list of players and plans to refine it to a shortlist this May, with performance in these upcoming tournaments being a crucial selection criterion for Glasgow.

Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz mentioned that 12 players, comprising six men and six women from the podium program, will participate in the test series. However, only three men and three women will ultimately be selected for the final squad to the Commonwealth Games. He shared these insights after attending a working committee meeting at the National Sports Council (NSC) in Bukit Jalil.

Discussing the current competitive environment among the players, Awalan highlighted the increasingly intense and healthy competition, with every player showing consistent improvement. He remarked on the 7-Nation Invitational Lawn Bowls Championship, which concluded last Wednesday, where several surprising outcomes, including Nor Farah Ain Abdullah's victory over a world champion, marked a positive development for the national squad.

Awalan emphasized that selection is based on evaluating consistency across multiple competitions, rather than a single tournament. The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to occur from July 23 to August 2.