22nd June, J.Bahru: Melaka youth, Kevin Tan Hock Leong and Natasha Adam clinched their maiden SportExcel-NAC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit titles when they emerged the Boy's Open and Girl's Open champions of the Johor leg on Sunday evening.

The top seed narrowly beat Muhd Fazrin, 150-147 in the first game and 192-183 in the second to clinch his maiden victory with 342 to Fazrin's 330 in the two final matches. Kevin reached the finals knocking out seventh seed, Muhd Hanif of Pahang, 416-337 in the first semi-final and eighth seed, Yusuf Abdul Raof of KL, 428-339 in the quarter-final.

The runnerup, Muhd Fazrin beat fifth seed, Chiam Zi Kuan of Johor, 398-362 in the other semi to set up the final title match with the champion. The Perak youth also dispatched third seed, Muhd Amirrul Afif of KL, 502-391 in his quarter-final encounter.

Kevin amaseed a 14-game total of 2914 over Stage 1 and 2 rounds to advance into the elimination phase in pole followed by Muhd Saman of Pahang in second with 2812 and Mohd Amirrul Afif in third with 2776.

Natasha Adam of Kuala Lumpur also captured maiden title after she outclassed SUKMA XII Masters gold medalist, Cheryl Cheong Pui Yee of KL, 404-350. Natasha, who finished second in the Pahang leg in May, made the finals by edging top seed, Nadya Izzati of Selangor, 391-367 in the first semi.

The champion reached the semi after she knocked out third seed, Siti Najwa of Johor, 349-338 in the quarter-final. Cheryl reached the finals after ousting fifth seed, Nazira Nasir of Pahang, 350-317 in the other semi-final.

Natasha totaled 2402 over the two blocks of 14 games in sixth position to move into the quarter-final, as Nadya Izzati topped the field with 2573, 19 pins ahead of Cheryl in second with 2554 and Siti Nazwa of Johor third with 2455.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur youths, Nur Shamira Bte Abdul Manaf and Muhd Ikmal Ismail swept away the Girl's and Boy's Under-16 titles in the final stepladder matches. Nur Shamira defeated Kedah's Nor Fadeena, 372-294 to win the girl's crown after she knocked out fifth seed, 335-305 in the earlier semi-final.

Muhd Ikmal beat Mohd Zafiq Syaddiq of Perak, 383-354 in the title match to win boy's title after he edged top seed, Zawir Aiman of Perak, 382-369 in the first semi-final match. Zawir Aiman had earlier topped the preliminary rounds in pole with the champion in fifth.

The next leg will be staged at Ampang Superbowl Seremban from July 11 - 13 with the final leg at Ampang Superbowl Melaka from August 15 - 17. This year's GP Finals will be held at Mega Lanes Kuantan from August 29 - 31.

Photos by Ms Tay Li Neo.

22nd June, J.Bahru: Qualifying round leader, Wan Nazmi Fikri and Natasha Roslan swept the Boy's and Girl's Under-12 titles of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Johor leg as Ampang Superbowl Johor Bahru.

Wan Nazmi Fikri, who led the qualifying round with an 88 pin margin, cruised to a convincing victory to claim the Boy's Under-12 title with a 12-game total of 2268. Wan Nazmi chalked up 1193 and 1075 over the two blocks.

Ahmad Aidil B Abdul Halim improved from third overnight to snatch second spot with 1945 with Mohd Hafizuddin B Hanzir taking third spot with 1917. Muhd Hafiz Fikri finished in the podium to settle for fourth with 1875.

Natasha Roslan, who was sixth in the first block, shot 1078 in today's 6-game finals to win the Girl's Under-12 crown with a 12-game total of 1982. Natsha finished 47 pins ahead of overnight leader, Siti Nurzulaikha Bte Ismail of KL, who settled for second with 1935.

Ayra Nur Jehan of Selangor and Nurin Bte Othman of Johor claimed third and fourth positions with 1860 and 1837 respectively.

Photos by Ms Tay Li Neo.

21st June, J.Bahru: Perak and Melaka took center stage on Day 2 of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Johor leg as Norysazana Rosli took over the lead of the Girl's Graded U16 lead after the quarter-finals as Kevin Tan topped Boy's Open Stage 1.

Norsyazana Rosli, a runner-up in the second leg this year and trailing overnight leader, Noramirah Bte Hashim by 11 pins, took over the lead after she posted 1050 in the 6-game quarter-final for a 14-game total of 2486.

Noramirah settled for second with 2466, 20 pins adrift the Perak lass while Nur Shamira of Kuala Lumpur finished a close third with 2464. Melaka's Sonia Teoh Jia Yun, who led for the first four games dropped to fourth with 2458.

Nursyafiqah Bte Ramli (KED-2454), Nur Shahira (KUL-2414), Nur Fadeena Bte Aznel (KED-2392) and Nur Farah Syafiqah (PRK-2371) advanced into the knockout stage from fifth to eighth positions.

Melaka's Kevin Tan scorched the lanes at Ampang Superbowl Johor Bahru with two opening games of 258 and 290 to open up an 88-pin gap over Muhd Amsyar B Zakaria of Perak. Except for a 167 in game 7, Kevin bowled consistenly to top the Boy's Open Stage 1 with 1756.

Muhd Saman of Pahang finished second with 1679 followed by Chiam Zi Kuan of Johor third with 1593. The top 20 advanced into the quarter-finals.

Third leg champion, Nadya Izzati Bte Noor Azman of Selangor led the Girl's Open Stage 1 with a total of 1475. SUKMA XII Masters gold medalist, Cheryl Cheong Pui Yee finished second with 1461, just 12 pins off the pace.

Pahang's Nazira Nasir took thord spot with 1432 with SUKMA XII team gold medalist, Farah Izzazaya of Pahang ans Siti Nazwa Bte Mohd Sanap rounding up the top 5.

Photos by Ms Tay Li Neo.

21st June, J.Bahru: KL's Siti Nurzulaikha Bte Ismail and Selangor's Wan Nazmi Fikri shone in the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Johor leg as the duo topped the Girl's and Boy's Under-12 qualifying round.

Natasha Roslan of Selangor set the pace with 175 in her opening game but the lead soon changed hands when Ain Farah Saffurra of Pahang surged into the lead after the second game. But Natasha regained the lead and into the fourth game with 11 pins.

KL's Siti Nurzulaikha Bte Ismail gradually moved up the field after a slow start to take over after the fifth game and held it until the sixth and final game ending the 6-game qualifying round in the lead.

Siti shot 952 for a 24-pin lead over Ain Farah in second with 928. Najwa Asyikin Bte Abdul Jalil finished third with 925. The top 12 made the cut for tomorrow's finals.

In the Boy's Under-12 division, Wan Nazmi B Hanzir led from start to finish ending the qualifying round with 1075 and a comfortable margin of 88 pins. Muhd Hareez Ismail, who was the only one challenging for the lead, settled for second with 988. Ahmad Aidil B Abdul Halim finished third with 952. The Top 12 made the cut for tomorrow's finals.

Photos by Ms Tay Li Neo.

20th June, J.Bahru: Noramirah Bte Hashim of Johor and Squad A leader, Zawir Aiman B Abdul Salleh of Perak took their first-ever lead when the duo topped the Girl's and Boy's Graded Stage 1 of the SportsExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit fifth leg at Ampang Superbowl.

Zati Iman Zainudin of Negeri Sembilan set the early pace with superb 225 opening game but her lead was short lived when Melaka's Sonia Teoh Jia Yun surged into the lead after a high game of 235 in the second game.

Noramirah Bt Hashim of Johor did not have the best of start only managing 192 and 149 but the Johor lass gradually moved up the field. Despite a brief set back when she shot a low 133 in the sixth game, her

233 and 213 in the final two games allowed her to snatch pole with 1447.

Sonia Teoh was edged by 3 pins from the lead finishing second with 1445 while Norsyazana Rosli of Perak claimed third spot with 1436.

The top 28 girls advance for tomorrow's quarter-finals. The 28th position went to Sahfidah Bt Seman of Johor on a 8-game total of 1251 averaging 156.38.

Meanwhile, Zawir Aiman B Abdul Salleh of Perak, who topped Squad A yesterday, retained top spot when all 106 youths completed their Stage 1. Zawir shot 1591 with Mohd Zharif B Hashim of Selangor in second with 1553.

KL's Kua Jian Wen and Mohd Farhan B Rahmat of Johor tied in thrid with 1503 with Muhd Syahmi Rizuan B Mohd Yusuf rounding up the top 5 in fifth spot with 1493. The top 48 boys advance to the quarter-finals.

The Boy's and Girl's Open Stage 1 will be contested tomorrow morning with the Under-12 youths bowling their 6-game qualifying round in the afternoon.

Photos by Ms Tay Li Neo.