13th March, Ipoh: Top-seeds in all the four divisions, Nur Syakirah Yeo, Mohd Hafizuddin, Khairul Hadfiz, and Tunku Haifaa claimed their titles in the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Perak which concluded at Ampang Superbowl this afternoon.

Kedah's Kahirul Hadifz claimed his maiden win after he defeated third-seed and challenger, Syed Muzzaffar of Pahang, 227-146 in the Boy's stepladder finals. The 18 year-old, who won 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal in the 6th Asian Schools Championship in 2003 in Penang led at the end of the round-robin finals this morning to take up top-seed.

Syed Muzzaffar settled for second despite knocking out second-seed, Alex Choo of MSN Kedah and Eric Chai of Perak with 191-158-149 in the first match. The champion topped the round-robin finals with 4294

followed by Alex Choo in second with 4272 whie Syed and Eric Chai took third and fourth positions with 4269 and 4230 and making the cur for the stepladder.

In the Boy's Graded division, Muhammad Hafizuddin of MSN Kedah also brought home his maiden win after he defeated fourth-seed and challenger, Mohamad Syafiq of Kelantan, 169-143. The 17 year-old Koleg Sutan Abdul Hamid Form 5 student from Alor Star had earlier topped the round-robin finals with a tota score of 4108 before the stepladder finals.

Mohamad Syafiq was contented with second place after he finished fourth in the finals and manage to knock out second-seed, Mohamad Amirul Afif of MSN KL and Shaun Sebatiaon Tan of Penang, 185-182-156 to have a shot at the title.

In the Girl's Open division, National Youth member, Nur Syakirah Yeoh edged another member of the National Youth, Wan Nur Atiqqa, both from Johor by a single pin. Both bowlers tied at 163 in the final stepladder and had to go for a 9-10 frame rol-off to break the tie. Atiqqa score 37 in her two frames whie Syakirah had an open frame in the 9th. She struck in the 10th and the bonus frame and only needed a 9 pin count to take the title.

But she shot a low pocket to leave two pins standing but a messenger pin came across the pin deck to knock down one of the pins which gave her the needed 9 pin count and the match. Wan Nur Atiqqa settled for second despite ousting third-seed Saw Bee Gek and fourth-seed Fatin Syazliana, both from Penang, 208-185-194.

The Girl's Graded divison crown went to newcomer, Tunku Hafiaa of MSN Kedah when she defeated challenger, Dhira Bte Marzuki in the sudden-death final stepladder match 195-170. The champion lost the firsst match 148-178 before recovering to win the crucial game and the title.

Dhira, who led in both Stage 1 and quarterfinals, had to settle for second even though she knocked out second-seed Leisha Manan and Charmain Ho, both of MSN KL, 180-141-155 in the first stepladder match.

A total of 160 youths competed in the first leg of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit which kicked off the 2005 season. The next leg will be held at Megalanes, Seberang Prai in the Penang/Kedah leg from 1 - 3 April.

Photos by Terence Yaw, MTBC

12th March, Ipoh: The lead changed hands as Pahang's Syed Muzzaffar took over the top position at the end of the Boy's Open quarterfinals of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Perak leg while Sin Li Jane and Dhira bte Marzuki maintained their lead in the Girl's Open and Graded divisions.

The 18 year-old GP Finalist, scorched the lanes at Ampang Superbowl in Ipoh this evening with lines of 220, 192, 237, 229, 202 and 209 to grab the lead with a total score of 2764 after 8 games in Stage I and 6 games in the quaterfinals. Khairul Hadfiz of Kedah improved from fourth this morning to second with 2739 followed by MSN Kedah's Alex Choo in third with 2692.

Stage 1 leader, Tengku Afnan of MSN Kedah, lost the lead and dropped

to fourth with 2683 while Johor's Wan Muhd Fauzwan maintain fifth place with 2660. Perak's Eric Chai made up tremendous ground to move up from 12th to sixth on 2642.Spinner, Muhd Fahd Huzali of Kuala Lumpur and Johor's Afiq Rifqi completed the top 8 in seventh and eighth positions for tomorrow's round-robin semifinals with 2636 and 2626 respectively.

Perak's Sin Li Jane, who was promoted to Girls Open this year, proved her merit when she maintained the lead with 2616 and a comfortable 77 pins ahead of her nearest opponent. Li Jane, who won the Peter Yap's Memorial Cup in February was outstanding in the MSS Perak when she bagged two Gold medals in the Under-15 Girls division and earned her place in the team that competed the MSSM 2005 early this month.

The 13 year-old won two Junior Circuit titles last year in the Graded division and is determined to do well in the higher division. Johor's Wan Nur Atiqqa settled for second with 2539 followed by Penang's Saw Bee Gek in third with 2470.

Stage 1 leader, Dhira bte Marzuki continued to show her prowess when she maintained the lead in the Girls Graded division at the end of the

quarterfinals with 2275. Twenty-four pins behind her came Leisha Manan of MSN Kuala Lumpur, who socred 2251. Tunku Haifa of Kedah did well to move up from 13th overnight to third with 2266 while Selangor's Silvia Chin moved up one notch to fourth with 2200. Diyana Syazwani (SEL-2178), Charmine Ho (KUL-2175), Nur Ilyana (PRK-2175) and Emma Maria (PRK-2154) made the top 8 from fifth to eighth positions.

The top 8 in each category will contest the round-robin finals on Sunday, 13th March and the top 4 at the end of the finals will proceed to the stepladder finals to determine the champion in each category.

Photos by Terence Yaw, MTBC

12th March, Ipoh: Quarter finals leaders, MSN Kuala Lumpur youngster, Mohammad Amirul Afif topped the Boys Graded quarterfinals of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Perak leg at Ampang Superbowl this afternoon.

The 13 year-old St. John's Institute student pipped Kelantan's Mohammad Syafiq by 3 pins to top the Boys Graded division at the end of the 6-game quarterfinals with 2522. Amirul Afif, who has been bowling for 3 years, won the Under-15 Singles Gold medal in the MSS KL championship before representing KL in the MSSM 2005 championship last week. Amirul only managed a Bronze medal in the Under-15 Doubles event.

"I took part in last year's Junior Circuit but have never made the top 8 and I am even happier that I can qualify as the leader," said Amirul. "I hope to make the stepladder finals by finishing top 6 tomorrow."

Second position went ot Mohamad Syafiq of Kelantan, who totalled 2519 ahead of MSN Kedah's Muhammad Nafizuddin with 2481. Stage 1 Squad A leader, Shaun Sebastian Tan of Penang finished fourth with 2478 while overall Stage 1 leader, Ng Wee Kiat dropped to fifth place with 2475.

Mohamad Alif (JOH-2462), Shahril Hafiz (SEL-2417) and Muhamad Dhuaha Johari (PEN-2413) completed the top 8 qualifying for tomorrow's round-robin finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw, MTBC

12th March, Ipoh: Kedah youths dominated the Boy's Open Stage 1 of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Perak leg when Tengku Afnan Tengku Zahari led a 1-2-3-4 finish while Perak's Sin Li Jane topped the Girl's Open division this morning.

Tengku Afnan of MSN Kedah stormed home in the final two games of the 8-game Stage 1 to snatch the lead from pace setter and teammate, Alex Choo. Afnan posted 1580, just 3 pins from Choo, who totalled 1577. Afnan's lines was 224m 153, 187, 205, 185, 212, 197 and 217. Ku Jamsarul, also of MSN Kedah took third spot with 1564, a further 13 pins adrift.

Another 13 pins away in fourth place was Kedah's Khairul Hadfiz, who knocked down 1543 ahead of Johor's Wan Muhd Fauzwan with 1536.

2004 GP Finals 1st finalist, Fahmi Bahri of Johor took sixth spot with 1521 while Muhd Fahd Hazali (KUL-1503), Mohd Faiz (PEN-1496), Mohd Khusairi (PRK-1495) and Jeremy Mun (KUL-1483) completed the top 10. The top 16 finishers in the Stage 1 made the cut for the quarterfinals, which will be contested later today. At the end of the quaterfinals, the top 8 will move on to the round-robin finals on Sunday, 13th March.

In the girl's division, Peter Yap's Memorial Cup champion, Sin Li Jane of Perak took honours when she easily topped the field of 17 with a score of 1507. Second position went to Johor's Wan Nur Atiqqa, who posted 1439, 68 pins behind the leader. Selangor's Ili Syazana claimed third spot with 1429 to stay amongst the leaders.

Penang's Saw Bee Gek finished fourth with 1399 followed by Johor's Nur Syakirah Yeoh in fifth place with 1381. Early pace setter and newly promoted, Denise Ho of MSN Kuala Lumpur fizzled out to finish sixth position on a score of 1371.

Making the cut for the quarterfinals were Tengku Emalyna (KED-1353), Nadya Izzati (Ked-1332), Nicole Teong (KUL-1324), Johara Jahari (PEN-1315) and Siti Shazwani (JOH-1306) from seventh to 12th positions.

Photos by Terence Yaw, MTBC

11th March, Ipoh: Melaka youth, Ng Wee Kiat spinned his way to the top of the Boy's Graded Stage 1 of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit when Squad A and B combined at Ampang Superbowl this evening.

The 16 year-old spinner from Melaka started off well with but dropped slightly with two bak-to-back low games. Ng came back strongly to stay amongst the leaders and picked up pace towards the end to post an 8-game total of 1466 to take over the lead from Squad A leader, Shaun Sebastian Tan from Penang.

Tan, who topped Squad A earlier in the afternoon, had to settle for second, 29 pins behind Ng when he knocked down 1437. The 16 year-old SMK Penang Free student, who only started bowling last year, has

since won 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal in the MSS Penang Championship before going on to bag two Bronze medals in the MSSM Championship in Petaling Jaya last week.

MSN Kedah's Muhammad Hafizuddin did well to post 1423 to claim third spot, just 1 pin ahead of the fourth-placed youth from Johor, Mohamed Alif. Mohamed Alif finished second in Squad A with 1422. Kelantan's Mohammad Syazwan took fifth spot with 1417.

Earlier in the morning, the Junior Circuit started off the 2005 season with Sekolah Sukan Bandar Penawar's Dhira bte Marzuki leading the Girl's Graded division with 1319. Second and third spots went to the two local youths, Farah Asyiqin and Syaidatul Afifah with 1295 and 1276 respectively.

The top 48 boys and top 28 girls made the cut for tomorrow's Stage 2 quarterfinals when they will bowl another 6 games. The field will be cut down to 8 each proceeding to the round-robin finals on Sunday, 13th March. The Girl's and Boys Open divisions will contest their Stage 1 tomorrow morning.

Photos by Terence Yaw, MTBC

13th March, Ipoh: Dhira Bte Mazuki of Johor got off to a good start in the Sportexcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Perak Leg when she led the Girl's Graded Stage I at Ampang Superbowl, Ipoh Parade this morning.

The 16-year-old Sekolah Sukan Bandar Penawar student posted 1319 over the 8-game Stage I to lead by 24 pins in a field of 36 girls. Dhira, who won 3 Silver and 1 Broze medal in last year's Kejohanan Boling MSSM in Seremban, did not compete in this year's championship but instead focused on this leg to do well.

Perak youths put in strong challenges when Farah Asyiqin and Syaidatul Afifah trailed the leader in second and third with 1295 and 1276 respectively. Charmine Ho of MSN-Kuala Lumpur and Silvia Chin of Selangor shared fourth spots with 1255 while another Perak youth, Emma Maria finished sixth with 1240.

The top 28 girls from Stage I will proceed to tomorrow's Stage II quarter finals for another 6 games. At the end of the quarter finals, the top 8 will make the cut for the round-robin finals on Sunday, 13th March.

Squad A of the Boy's Graded division will take on to the lanes this afternoon while Squad B will play in the evening. The top 48 at the end of the Stage I will move on to the next round.

Photos by Terence Yaw, MTBC