20th August, P.Jaya: National youths, Noor Afizal Azizan of Negeri Sembilan and Siti Nursyakila Mardyanna of Megalanes Shah Alam were crowned SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit GP Finals champions which ended at Pyramid Megalanes Sunday afternoon.

Noor Afizal, the reigning National Youth champion and seeded fourth at the end of the 8-game round-robin matchplay finals earlier, went all the way to outshine top-seed, Abdul Hadi Haris of Megalanes Shah Alam, 245-193 in the first match and forcing the leader to a sudden-death decider.

The 15-year-old just manage to edge Abdul Hadi, 193-183 to take his second major title this year. Noor Afizal, who won the Youth Masters crown early this year in the National Championship, made amends for a dismal showing during the Asian Schools Championship in Bangkok.

The champion also cruised to a comfortable win over second-seed, Nazrin Wagiman of Sarawak and third-seed, Rodson Tong of Pahang in the first stepladder match, 245-190-173 before gong on to take the victory.

In the Girl's Open division, top-seed and SUKMA XI two Gold medalist, Nazrinnah Mohd Kamil failed to capitalise when she lost both the matches to fourth-seed and national youth teammate, Siti Nursyakila Mardyanna of Megalanes Shah Alam, 224,183 - 236,210 in two matches.

The 17-year-old had earlier topped all the rounds including the 8-game round-robin semifinals with a total of 4166. Second-seed, Fatin Syazliana of Penang and third-seed, Nicole Teong of Kuala Lumpur lost to Siti Nursyakila, 178-178-189 to finish third and fourth positions.

Undoubtedly, the glory belong to 15-year-old Syaidatual Afifah Bte Badrul of Perak as she cruised to a well-deserved victory in the Girl's Graded division. The SUKMA XI Team and All Events Gold medalist, who led in both the Round 1 and semifinals, defeated challenger, Yap Cheng Yah of Sabah, 192-178 to cap off a superb year.

"I was so nervous when we started the stepladder finals and I thought I was going to loose to Yap after seeing her trash her opponent in the first stepladder match," said the delighted Syaidatual. "Luckily, I settled down and was able to get on with my game.

Yap settled for second despite knocking out third-seed, Zity Nabilah of Kedah and Farah Izzazaya of Pahang, 215-163-211 in the first match.

The Boy's Graded title went to 17-year-old Faliq Aimran of Kuala Lumpur after he outclassed his opponent, Kevin Tan of Melaka, 258-205 in the final stepladder match. Tan finished second despite ousting third-seed, Bong Kihow of Sarawak and Muhammad Fajrin Khairul Faizi of Perak, 211-206-180.

Asian Championships All Events Gold medalist, Azidi Ameran and Team Gold medalist, Alex Liew were on hand to present the trophies and medals to the Graded division winners while Mr Teng Mui Ngee, Executive Director of SportExcel presented the trophies and medals to the Open division winners. Mr Joe Slowinski, Director and Coaching and Coaches Certification of Sukan Teras presented certificates to all the GP finalists.

Photos by Terence Yaw, MTBC.

19th August, P.Jaya: Perak girls dominated the start of the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit GP Finals when national youth, Nazrinnah Mohd Kamil and Syaidatul Afifah topped Round 1 underway at Pyramid Megalanes Saturday morning.

Nazrinnah Mohd Kamil, who won two Gold medals in the SUKMA XI, posted a total over the two blocks of 6-games with 2432 and an average of 202.67. Despite two low games in the third and eighth game, the 17-year-old from Ipoh was able to retain the lead in the Girl's Open division, 16 pins ahead of Kuala Lumpur's Nicole Teong in second with 2416.

First block leader and triple leg winner, Fatin Syazliana of Penang, settled for third with a total of 2383 while Siti Nursyakila Mardyana of Megalanes Shah Alam and SUKMA XI Singles Gold medalist, Trish Khoo finished fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Negeri Sembilan's Nur Hidayah, Johor's Siti Shazwani and Sabah's Theresa Vincent Sipaul finished in the top 8 to make the cut for tomorrow's Round-robin finals. Tengku Emanina of Kedah just missed the cut finishing 3 pins adrift Theresa.

Nazrinnah's teammate and SUKMA XI All Events Gold medalist, Syaidatul Afifah romped home a comfortable leader with 111 pins to spare. The 15-year-old, who came into the GP Finals as ranked No. 1 in the Girl's Graded division, chalked up a total of 2355 leading both the blocks.

Sabah's Yap Cheng Yah, who was fifth after 6 games, stormed home to clinch second spot with a total of 2244 while Negeri Sembilan's Hurul Ainul finished third ahead of pace-setter, Zity Nabilah of Kedah, with 2158.

Meanwhile, Megalanes Shah Alam's Abdul Hadi Haris also led both two 6-game blocks to top the Boy's Open division with a total of 2495. The 17-year-old national youth posted lines of 161, 232, 235, 149, 253, 243, 222, 174, 196, 257, 198 and 175.

Kuala Lumpur's prolific spinner, Muhammad Fahd B Hazali did well to stay with the leader to finish second with 2364, 31 pins adrift. Top ranked, Tengku Afnan B Tengku Zahari of Kedah retained third spot with 2312 a further 52 pins.

Faliq Aimran of Kuala Lumpur topped the Boy's Graded division with a comfortable margin of 78 pins on a total of 2439. Melaka's kevin Tan Hock Leong took second position with 2361 followed by Muhammad Fazrin B Khairul Faizi of Perak third with 2354.

The top 8 in both the Boy's Open and Boy's Graded division made the cut for toorrow's Round-robin matchplay finals. The top 4 at the end of the finals will proceed to the stepladder finals to determine this year's GP Finals champions.

Photos by Ms Tay Li Neo and Terence Yaw, MTBC.