Arena Petanque in Taman Pudu Ulu to host World Petanque Championships in September

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has confirmed it will host the World Petanque Championships in September.

The tournament will be held at Arena Petanque in Taman Pudu Ulu, Cheras, from Sept 17 to 23.

Officials from the Malaysian Boules Sports Federation (MBSF) will meet Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari next week to brief him on preparations for the World Petanque Championships (Men and Junior) in Precision Shooting and Triples.

“We will pay a courtesy call on Dr Mohammed Taufiq, who only took office last month. This will be our first meeting with him,” said MBSF acting president Cheah Ban Cheng.

“We plan to brief him on the World Championships. We will also meet the National Sports Council, as we want all stakeholders to be informed.”

Cheah said MBSF had received official confirmation from the world governing body, Federation de Petanque et Jeu Provencal, to host the championships.

“The world body is pleased for Malaysia to host the event and is delighted that Arena Petanque will be the main venue,” he said.

Arena Petanque was purpose-built for the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and is widely regarded as one of the best petanque venues in the world. It features 24 indoor lanes and eight outdoor lanes, although only the indoor lanes will be used for the World Championships.

Cheah also said MBSF will hold its annual general meeting on Feb 8 to finalise its new executive council line-up.

“Once the line-up is confirmed, we will go full steam ahead with preparations for the World Championships,” he said.

“We need to secure sponsors and finalise player selection.”

Malaysia recently concluded its SEA Games campaign in Thailand, where the target was four medals, including one gold. While the overall medal target was met, all four medals won were bronze.

In Thailand, the men’s team of Khairul Amirul Zamrulhisham, Muqri Arif Sapiny and Syed Afiq Fakhri Syed Ali, as well as the women’s team of Jasmina Jasmine Johan, Nur Durratul Sahira Yazit and Thadis Henhera Vennice, lost to Thailand in the semifinals. Losing semifinalists were awarded bronze medals, as there were no play-offs.

Malaysia’s other medals came from Nuzul Azwan Ahmad Temizi in the men’s shooting event, and Ayzek Hakimi Safingan and Sharifah Afiqah Farzana Syed Ali in mixed doubles.

Main image: Malaysian Boules Sports Federation/Facebook