Putty Insavilla Armein: Bowling them over at the Asiad

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 12/05/2006 1:15 PM | Life

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Doha, Qatar

""Which one is Putty? Which one is Putty?"" several foreign journalists at the Qatar Bowling Center asked Sunday. They were looking for the bowler who gave Indonesia its first medal in this Asian Games.

At just 1.54 meters in height, Palembang native Putty Insavilla Armein can be hard to spot among burly bowlers. But the 25-year-old, who is ranked No. 8 in the world and No. 1 in Asia, has the potential to strike big on the lanes.

Those who see her bowl will soon give up the habit of judging books by their covers.

Putty has put together an impressive record this year. She finished second in the prestigious World Ranking Masters in Kuwait in May, where only top ranking bowlers from around the world were allowed to compete.

She also won two gold and two silver medals in the Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in Jakarta in August. She then finished eighth in the world championships in Caracas, Venezuela early last month.

No wonder Sunday's result in the Asiad, a silver medal in the women's singles, disappointed her. But it was enough to bring the Indonesian contingent some relief.

She finished behind 2005 world champion Esther Mei Lan Cheah. The 20-year old Malaysian came in 10th at the World Ranking Masters where Putty won silver.

""I don't want to lie to you and say I am not disappointed. I am. But I take it as God's will. I have done my best, but God decides the result. It's just not my time. But I believe that sooner or later my time will come,"" Putty told reporters after the competition.

The Indonesian Sports Council placed its medal hopes on Putty after weightlifter Raema Lisa Rumbewas, who had been favored in the women's 53 kilogram weight class division, finished fourth.

With a total of six gold medals on offer on the bowling lanes, Putty is looking ahead.

""I am not discouraged by the result. Our team still has many big chances to win gold medals,"" said Putty.

""After all, this medal is the first for Indonesia and that will give me good memories,"" she said lightly.

Putty speaks enthusiastically about Indonesian bowlers's chance to become the world's best.

""It's just a matter of time,"" she said in a previous interview with The Jakarta Post.

Indonesia has Ryan Leonard Lalisang, who on Monday struck gold in the men's division. In the run-up to the Asian Games, Ryan claimed fourth place in the World Ranking Masters and 11th at the world championship. He is third in the Asian Bowling Federation's rankings.

Her junior, Tanya Roumimper, 16, placed 9th in the World Ranking Masters.

Born on Oct. 24, 1981, the third child of Armein Yuswar and Irma Armein, Putty learned the sport at the age of 11 from her mother Irma when the family was staying in Kuala Lumpur.

""I owe much of my achievement in bowling to my family, who introduced me to the sport and keep on supporting me,"" she told the Post.

She returned to Indonesia in 1998 and represented the country in a junior bowling championship in Singapore, bringing home a silver medal.

As the youngest member of the national bowling team for the SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam in 1999, Putty showed her talent, grabbing bronze.

Putty is committed to her sport. She decided to quit her studies at the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political Sciences in 2000 to become a full-time bowler.

In the 2001 SEA Games in Malaysia, Putty again had to settle for the bronze medal as Indonesia lost to Southeast Asian bowling powerhouses Malaysia and the Philippines.

Putty's skills improved as she won the 2004 Asian Bowling Federation Tour at the Jaya Ancol Bowling lanes in North Jakarta.

Under new coaches Sid Allen of Canada and Ruben Ghiragossian of Venezuela, Putty's prowess in individual and team events progressed significantly. She won two golds at the 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines.

Her star continued to rise this year.

Putty said coaches play a key role in keeping her spirits up for the Asiad competition.

""I am challenged to win the most prestigious title in the Asiad by becoming the All Events champion,"" she said.

She explained that All Events, which combines a bowler's points scored in singles, duos, trios and team 5, reflects the real level of a bowler's skills as it requires stamina and consistency in both individual and team play.

""I think I will make it my personal goal in the Asiad,"" she said.

""I hope I can maintain my top form in the upcoming games.

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