World junior champs named to defend crowns
Just 22 days after Victoria’s Dylan Fisher and Chloe Stewart were crowned world singles champions at the sport’s only under-25 international event, Bowls Australia have confirmed the pair will be given the chance to defend their titles at next year’s World Junior Championships.
In announcing the decision, the sport’s National Selection Panel also granted Western Australia’s Kristina Krstic the opportunity to don the green and gold again for a consecutive year, after a runner-up finish to Stewart in the women’s singles event, while NSW’s Ben Twist will earn a berth in 2015, replacing Broadbeach’s Sean Ingham in the draw.
While the nine day, 13-nation event only just recently wrapped up last month at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bowls venue, Broadbeach Bowls Club, next year’s instalment is already almost upon us; only 88 days away, with the event transitioning to a regular March time-slot on the annual international calendar moving forward.
Twist, 24, already boasts credentials on the junior international stage; having claimed the World Junior Cup title in Warilla in 2011, and has been tasked with skipping Krstic in the mixed pairs combination, while also lining up in the second men’s singles pool.
Stewart and Fisher will both enter the fray in section one of the women’s and men’s singles pools respectively, and will again unite for the mixed pairs action, where they will attempt to better their fifth placed final standing.
“Our selectors were delighted with all our under-25 international representatives, in both their on-green performances and off-green professionalism at the recent World Junior Championships,” National Coach Steve Glasson said on behalf of the National Selection Panel.
“It’s somewhat of an odd situation to have the same event backing up so quickly, approximately four months after it was held, however we are very excited to give our finalists and champions the chance to emulate their stellar performances of just a few of weeks ago.”
“When speaking with these players, their excitement was obvious and infectious, you can really see how much it means for them to get the chance to represent their country at the under-25 level; it’s a significant achievement to just be selected, let alone have the opportunity for Dylan and Chloe to defend their titles.”
The announcement comes as a belated birthday gift for the Kyneton-based Stewart, who celebrated her 19th birthday last Tuesday.
The 2015 World Junior Championships will be staged from March 7 to 15 at Broadbeach Bowls Club on the Gold Coast.
Girls :
Section 1: Chloe Stewart (19, Kyneton Bowls Club, VIC)
Section 2: Kristina Krstic (20, Manning Memorial Bowling Club, WA)
Boys :
Section 1: Dylan Fisher (20, Fitzroy Victoria Bowls and Sports Club, VIC)
Section 2: Ben Twist (24, St Johns Park, NSW)
Mixed Pairs Combinations:
Kristina Krstic & Ben Twist
Chloe Stewart & Dylan Fisher
Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes in the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Squad program.
