Sports Banter | Ainie Knight, member ng Philippine Lawn Bowls National Team
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NewsTranscript
00:00And now we are joined live via Zoom by Ms. Ayni Knight, member of the Philippine Longbows National Team.
00:06Good morning!
00:07Good morning, ma'am.
00:09Hi, good morning, sir, ma'am. Good morning.
00:12Just call me Ayni.
00:14So, thank you so much for joining us this morning.
00:19But now, what's new with Ayni? What are you up to now?
00:25Still the same, ma'am.
00:26I still play longbow sports. I'm still very active. I'm still a member of the Philippine Longbows National Team.
00:32And last year, we had a lot of achievements, especially in the family sports of longbows.
00:43Because my brother, my nephew, and my niece, they won a lot of medals last year.
00:50Very, very successful, ma'am.
00:52Wow! Congratulations!
00:54Your 2024 is very beautiful.
00:59How old are your nieces and nephews?
01:04Yes, Ms. Angelica Abatayo, ma'am.
01:07I mean, Ms. Shella, sorry.
01:09She's 19 years old, turning 20 years old this March.
01:14And my other nephew, James Ras, will turn 20 this February.
01:19So, they've only been in the sport for three years.
01:21But Ms. Angelica became a silver medalist in the World Indoor Bowls last year in Hong Kong.
01:29And then, my nephew, in the Lion Bowls in Singapore,
01:33he was championed by his uncle, Elmer Abatayo, who is also on the national team of longbows.
01:39Wow! Being an athlete really runs in the family, huh?
01:44Actually, it's a good thing, partner.
01:46Because in their family, they really love the sport they love.
01:51But Ms. Ayni, I just want to ask,
01:54how did your influence on our family members here in Longbow start?
02:04So, first, this came from my husband.
02:07So, he's British national.
02:09And the longbows are originally from the UK.
02:12So, when we met up with Paolo, he introduced me to the longbow.
02:18So, I liked it.
02:19I was able to learn it quickly, and I quickly got used to the longbow.
02:26As long as you're passionate, and you have love for your sport.
02:30And I also encouraged my nephews and nieces, especially during the pandemic.
02:36So, at first, it was just in our backyard, in the garden of our house during the pandemic.
02:42So, we continued to make the Crusaders Bowls Club, which is a carpet.
02:48So, that's where we started.
02:50We did training.
02:51Our training was in Pusbusan.
02:53Apart from our training in Clark, that's our national headquarters.
02:59But here at Crusaders, because mostly in other countries,
03:03they use carpets instead of rail grass.
03:07So, it became a big advantage for the family, actually.
03:11Because here in Pusbusan, we do training.
03:14So, every time we go to other countries, we really compete well.
03:21My brother and I were champions in Lions Bowl Singapore last year.
03:27Then, Angelica, when she was in Hong Kong,
03:30because we used almost the same carpet here at Crusaders,
03:35it was a big advantage that we have the same way of playing in other countries.
03:42So, that's what we're really proud of.
03:44We thought of making our own training venue here for longbows.
03:53That's a good initiative, Ms. Ayni.
03:55It's really inspiring because she introduced her sport to her family.
04:06True.
04:07Because that's what she mentioned to her husband in the UK.
04:11Yes.
04:12But this sport is not that popular here in the Philippines.
04:19Ms. Ayni, can you tell us briefly how this sport is played?
04:26Technicality-wise.
04:28We have a little kitty, Michela.
04:31So, this is close.
04:33Longbows, no matter how old you are, you can do it.
04:38As long as you're capable of bending.
04:41Moreover, in this sport, it's all about the mental game.
04:45Almost all sports.
04:47But this longbow is close to the little kitty, the white jack, as we call it.
04:55It's fast.
04:56It's actually fast to learn.
04:59As long as you're passionate about the sport,
05:02and you want to achieve something,
05:07to compete in other countries,
05:09and to be good at yourself.
05:11So, we really encourage longbows.
05:15Now, Michela is sending letters, especially to schools around our area,
05:22especially to summer classes.
05:25I encourage schools to participate in this longbow
05:29so that they can get to know our sport.
05:32Longbows are not that popular here in the Philippines.
05:38Actually, if you're 100% committed,
05:42it's really easy to learn everything.
05:44But, Ms. Ayni, I have a question.
05:47You've mentioned earlier that the difference between carpet and grass.
05:52Can you share with us,
05:54because you said it's an advantage, Ms. Ayni,
05:57to play in the grass for a long time.
05:59Then, transitioning into the carpet,
06:02you'll really excel.
06:05So, can you share with us the difference
06:08between playing longbows in the grass and carpet?
06:14Yes, Paulo.
06:15Because when I started,
06:16I've been a national athlete for 20 years.
06:18I'm 39 years old now.
06:20So, what I say to my nephews and nieces is,
06:23you're really lucky.
06:25Because when I started,
06:27I was going to Australia.
06:29So, I became a World Indoor Junior.
06:32At that time, I only won a bronze medal.
06:36Because it's really hard to adjust.
06:39You come from the Philippines.
06:41What we play is grass.
06:43It's really heavy.
06:45It's hard to pull the ball.
06:48And it's really hard to adjust when you go to other countries
06:53because the ball falls.
06:55And it takes a few days
06:57before you can get the speed of the carpet.
07:03So, I told them,
07:05this is our advantage,
07:07that we can compete properly.
07:09So, there's no laziness.
07:14So, we really encourage them.
07:16Especially when they're still studying,
07:19on Saturdays and Sundays.
07:20And my teammates here in the national team,
07:24Leo Carrion,
07:25he's the coach here at the Crusaders Bowls Club.
07:27We're really thankful
07:29because we help each other.
07:31We, the senior athletes here at the Longbowls,
07:34we really help the juniors
07:36so that they can be passionate about the Longbowls.
07:39And that's it.
07:41Our efforts paid off.
07:43Our juniors are now champions
07:47at the World Indoor Bowls.
07:50Angelica won the silver medalist at Malta in November.
07:56So, we're really lucky.
07:59Yes, ma'am. And congratulations on the team's success.
08:02But, ma'am, I have a question.
08:03Is that a factor when it comes to playing longballs
08:09on the grass and on the carpet?
08:12Because I used to play hole-in.
08:14It's like a hole-in.
08:16It's like a hole-in.
08:19But when you're playing on the grass,
08:22it's harder to roll the ball.
08:24Is that right, ma'am?
08:25What's the factor?
08:27Yes, Paolo.
08:28Because when you're shooting on the grass,
08:30the grass isn't perfect.
08:34Sometimes, there's bumping.
08:35The grass isn't level.
08:37It depends on the grass.
08:39If the grass is well-maintained,
08:41it's better and smoother.
08:43But it's hard.
08:45But the good thing about us,
08:48because we have grass and carpet,
08:50when we play on the grass abroad,
08:53especially in Hong Kong,
08:55that's where we practice, in Clark.
08:58Yes.
08:59And when we go abroad,
09:02when we play on the carpet,
09:04at least we have another thing prepared
09:07or we still have training.
09:09So, I encourage my teammates,
09:12especially when they go abroad,
09:15to train and practice here
09:18before going there.
09:19Because it's a big advantage.
09:21So, you won't be confused
09:23with your weight and your line.
09:27Ms. Aileen, you've been a national athlete
09:30for 20 years?
09:3220 years.
09:33Wow, that's a long time.
09:34What was your motivation
09:37as a part of the national team?
09:39And what keeps you in the national team
09:42until now?
09:44Well, until now,
09:46I'm still producing gold medals
09:50in the national team in Lombo.
09:52So, last year,
09:53I became a triples champion
09:57in the Asian Championships in Thailand
09:59that was held in March last year.
10:01So, I was a triples champion
10:03and a silver medalist in the 4x4.
10:05I was the team captain
10:07and the head of our group.
10:10So, even though I've been in the national team
10:15for 20 years,
10:17I can say that I'm still producing
10:21gold medals in Lombo.
10:24But, you know,
10:26because it's been a long time,
10:28I encourage the youth
10:30to participate
10:32or at least join.
10:33Give the sports a chance
10:35because it's a huge advantage for us.
10:38And for us Filipinos,
10:40it's so easy for us to learn these sports
10:43because we're patient
10:45and passionate about these sports.
10:49And I can see a big future
10:51for our youth.
10:52So, I'm still producing gold medals
10:58in the national team in Lombo.
11:02That's why I'm still producing gold medals.
11:06Ms. Annie, I'm so proud of you.
11:08I'm so proud to hear your achievement
11:11that you're still producing gold medals.
11:15But in this sport, in Lombo,
11:17is there a restriction?
11:19Up to what age can you play?
11:23There's no restriction, Ms.
11:26because in Lombo,
11:28regardless of age,
11:30in the World Bowls,
11:31regardless of age,
11:32as long as you're still good
11:34and you're able to play sports properly,
11:37there's no restriction.
11:38But here in our country,
11:40like in Australia,
11:42like in Malaysia,
11:44there are a lot of juniors.
11:46There are a lot in Hong Kong,
11:48in Singapore.
11:49There are a lot of juniors
11:50who play Lombo.
11:53Even kids from schools
11:55are introduced to it.
11:56So, there's no restriction in Lombo.
12:00Here in the Philippine Lombo Association,
12:04there are a lot of youth
12:06who are starting and joining now.
12:08So, hopefully,
12:10like myself,
12:12I've been a national athlete for 20 years.
12:15But my other teammates
12:17have been doing it for 25 to 30 years.
12:20So, hopefully,
12:22we can encourage other kids
12:27because it's really different
12:29from our perspective as a person,
12:32especially when you travel a lot
12:34and you mingle with different countries
12:38around the world.
12:39Your confidence really boosts up.
12:41The life of the youth is really different.
12:44So, I always tell them to travel
12:48to have different friends around the world.
12:51You'll have more achievements
12:55because you're confident in yourself.
12:57Exposure is really important, partner.
13:00And Miss Ayni,
13:01exposure is really good,
13:03especially for the youth.
13:05And speaking of youth, Miss Ayni,
13:07I just want to ask
13:08if we have grassroots programs
13:10in the national team
13:12like events or competitions
13:16for the youth
13:18where we can try Lombo
13:21so we can get national athletes
13:24one day?
13:26Yes.
13:27As of now, we don't have one yet.
13:29But that's what I want to achieve
13:32as myself,
13:34even for myself,
13:35I will increase it.
13:37At the moment,
13:38one step at a time.
13:40I sent letters to schools
13:42to encourage their students
13:45like age 14 and above
13:47to try Lombo.
13:52I will go to schools
13:54and talk to the principals.
13:57So, hopefully,
13:58I'm just being patient
14:01but hopefully,
14:03the youth will continue to join us.
14:06Although,
14:07some really complain
14:09because it's hot.
14:10This sport is outdoor.
14:13So, I told them,
14:16as long as you're passionate
14:18and you have your own sport
14:21and you want to join the national team,
14:23the training is hot
14:25and it's natural.
14:27So, hopefully,
14:29my husband and I also plan
14:32that if we have some extra money
14:35in the future,
14:36to have a covered board
14:39or carpet,
14:40even just four rings.
14:42Because,
14:43even in the world bowls,
14:46in the industry of our loan bowls,
14:48we are congratulated
14:50because almost all the players
14:54around the world
14:55are subsidized by their country.
14:57They have their own club
14:59or carpet.
15:00So, I'm so proud to say
15:03that financially,
15:06because my husband and I
15:08really dream
15:09to have our own sports club
15:12carpet
15:13to continue our loan bowls.
15:15So, we're congratulated
15:18by the world bowls
15:19because they can't believe
15:22that we spent our own money
15:24just for sports.
15:26So, if you think about it,
15:29if you're a business person,
15:31your ROI,
15:32there's no ROI in loan bowls
15:34because it's really passionate
15:36and love of the sports
15:37that you really love sports.
15:40That's why you want sports
15:41that will help the kids
15:44become popular here in the Philippines.
15:48Actually, ma'am,
15:49I just want to ask,
15:50I just want to go back
15:52to what you said earlier, ma'am.
15:53You've been in the national team
15:55for 20 years
15:56and the others have been here
15:57for 25 years
15:58and higher.
16:00Does this mean, partner,
16:02that's how long
16:04their sport has been?
16:05So, Ms. Aini,
16:07how big is the difference
16:11of loan bowls
16:12before up to now?
16:16There's not much growth
16:19of loan bowls here in the Philippines
16:22because maybe
16:26our advertisement
16:31or the popularity of loan bowls
16:35is not that well-known
16:38here in the Philippines.
16:39So, we really need
16:41to work hard
16:44and advertise.
16:48There's a lot of work
16:49that needs to be done
16:50in loan bowls
16:51so that we can be exposed
16:53and become popular
16:55here in our country
16:57because around the world,
16:58loan bowls are very popular.
17:01Here in the Philippines,
17:03when I explain our sports,
17:05they don't really know
17:06what they know.
17:07So, you really need
17:08to explain it to them.
17:09So, I really encourage
17:11our media coverage
17:14to play a bigger role
17:16so that loan bowls
17:18will be more known
17:19in the Philippines.
17:20Ms. Aini,
17:21I want to commend your effort
17:23and what you're showing.
17:26You're an inspiration
17:28especially to Filipinos
17:29because this is just one sport.
17:31Loan bowls are just one
17:32of many sports in the Philippines
17:34that are not well-known
17:36by our countrymen.
17:38That's why I'm glad
17:40that you are working
17:42and doing an extra effort.
17:44You even go to schools
17:45to share
17:47or collaborate
17:49with schools
17:50because I really believe
17:52that if you're as passionate
17:54as everybody else
17:55when it comes to sports,
17:56a lot of people will be inspired
18:00just like you, an athlete.
18:02And the media
18:04and of course, the internet
18:05will be really playing a big role
18:07so that you can spread
18:09or introduce this sport.
18:11But Ms. Aini,
18:12what else can our sports fans
18:16or those who are interested
18:18to know about loan bowls?
18:20What competition
18:21are you preparing for now?
18:23Where can they watch you
18:26if they want to see
18:28updates about loan bowls
18:30and the team?
18:32We're looking forward
18:33to hosting the Asian Championship
18:35here in Clark
18:36from April 27 to May 4.
18:39There are 10 countries involved.
18:42Here in Clark, CDC,
18:44we have the Clark Bowling Ground
18:47which is our national headquarters
18:49in the Philippine Loan Bowls.
18:50So, we will be the hosts.
18:53Hopefully,
18:54because in the Loan Bowls,
18:55we ladies,
18:57we were the overall champion
18:58last year in Thailand.
19:00So, hopefully,
19:01we will be able to win more gold medals
19:03this year.
19:05We will do a lot of training.
19:07And all of my teammates,
19:10I'm really proud of them
19:12because they're very passionate about the game
19:14and we're really competitive.
19:16So, you can reach
19:19the Philippine Loan Bowls Association.
19:21We have an FB page.
19:25And Crusaders Bowls Club,
19:26we also have an FB page
19:28that you can follow
19:31and watch our updates.
19:34So, like Saturday and Sunday,
19:36we have juniors coaching
19:39with Coach Leo
19:40here at Crusaders Bowls Club.
19:42So, hopefully, we will continue
19:44to have long bowlers,
19:47kids, and juniors.
19:49Hopefully, in the near future,
19:52we will have a bigger group
19:55of our juniors.
19:57So, thank you so much
19:59for inviting me here
20:01to PTV Sports.
20:02This is a big help, ma'am.
20:04Thank you so much, Ms. Ayni,
20:06for giving us time.
20:09And good luck
20:10to all of your upcoming tournaments
20:13that you will join.
20:14And of course, to our teammates,
20:15you can see that they have a FB page.
20:17Support them
20:18and watch their upcoming tournaments.
20:21And of course,
20:22our Cuponan is playing well
20:25in this sport.
20:26Once again, thank you so much,
20:27Ms. Ayni Knight,
20:28the member of the
20:29Philippine Long Bowls National Team.