23rd June, Kuching: National youths, Aris Ardilla B Santosoh of Miri and Malaysian Open Youth Girl's champion, Jacqueline Sijore of Sarawak outclassed their challengers in the stepladder finals to bag the SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Sarawak leg Open titles.

143 youths from Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak took part in the Sarawak leg with the Under 16 youths competing at Riverside Superbowl while the Open division contested for glory at the Crystal Bowl in Kuching yesterday and today.

Malaysian Open Youth Girls champion and top-seed, Jacqueline Sijore of Sarawak, was a class of her own as she cruised to a comfortable victory over challenger, Dayang Khairuniza in the final stepladder match, 215-173 for the Girl's Open crown.

The runner-up and second-seed, Khairuniza had earlier dispatched third-seed, Yap Cheng Yah of Sabah and Nurafidza Amran of Sarawak, 204-185-144 but was no match for the champion in the deciding title match.

Jacqueline topped the quarterfinals with a total of 2611 over the first block of 8 games and the 6-game quarterfinals to reach the stepladder finals. Dayang Khairuniza finished second, 111 pins adrift followed by Yap and Nurafidza making the stepladder finals third and fourth spots.

Sarawak youths celebrated a double after national youth, Aris Ardilla B Santosoh from Miri had an easy victory over challenger, Nazrin B Wagiman of Sarawak, 247-205 in the final stepladder match to claim the Boy's Open title.

Second-seed, Nazrin earned a crack at the title after easily knocking out third-seed, Jeff Chin and fourth-seed, Sunny Lee, 210-158-156 in the first stepladder match but found the champion too hot to handle.

The champion had earlier topped the round-robin finals winning six out of the 8 matches contested ending with a 22-game total over Stage 1, quarterfinals and the semifinals with 4701. Nazrin trailed the leader in second, 201 pins behind on 4500 with Sunny Lee and Jeff Chin in third and fourth.

Meanwhile, Sarawak swept all the titles when Chong Jun Foo and Noor Adtini Bte Mohd Adam were crowned the Boy's and Girl's Under 16 champions. Both had won their final stepladder matches by knocking out their challengers in one match.

Chong edged winner of the first match, Ahmad Faiz of Sabah, 209-194 for the boy's title while Noor Adtini defeated challenger, Syazwani Bte Sajeli 198-151 to claim the girl's crown. Both runners-up won their first stepladder matched but found the champion to strong.

Ahmed Faiz knocked out second-seed, Mohd Jed B Julaiman and fourth-seed, Mohd Ozzer, 257-179-204 in his first match while Syazwani took out second-seed, Sayzwani Bte Isa and third-seed, Audrey Alexander, 192-164-159 before going down to the champion in the title match.

ABAS Honorary Secretary, Robert Lu and Sports Development Officer for Bowling in Sabah, Encik Alfred Billy, presented the prizes for the Open Boys and Girls winners at Crystal Bowl while Maradona Chok, MTBC Vice President/Secretary for Tenpin Bowling Sabah and the Ketua Unit of Sukan Teras Sarawak, Encik Ahmad Osman, gave away the prizes to Under 16 Boys and Girls winners at Riverside Superbowl.

Photos by Robert Lu, ABAS.

21st June, Kuching: The 2nd Star of Tommorow Junior Bowling Championship saw two young 12 year-olds proving as future stars in the making as Muhd Syafiq B Sajeli and Najihah Bte Deli captured the Under-12 titles at Cyrstal Bowl.

Over 100 youths aged 12 and under from Kuching, Miri, Labuan and Sabah took part in the 2nd Star of Tomorrow Junior Bowling Championship organised by the Amateur Bowling Association of Sarawak (ABAS) in collaboration with Majlis Sukan Negeri Sarawak, Sukan Teras-NSC and Milo prior to the Junior Circuit Sarawak leg this weekend.

Muhd Syafiq B Sajeli of Satra Jaya Primary School in Kuching was a class above the rest of the boys as he cruised to a comfortable victory to capture the Biy's Under-12 title with 1162, 122 pins ahead of his nearest opponent.

Syafiq set a cracking pace with 201 and then rounded off the first 3 games with 156 and 192. The 12-year-old stretched his lead with another scintillating 241 followed by a 192 and 190 for his first-ever title. Ahmad Fawwaz Farhan Abdullah and Azril Fakhree Khanih, both from Sabah finished second and third on 1040 and 1011 respectively.

Kuching girls swept the top 3 positions with 12-year-old, Najihah Bte Deli from Satria Jaya Primary School edging teammates, Jocelyna Judith Jonathan and Cherfenny Layun Parag for the coveted crown.

Najihah amassed a 6-game total of 960 and an impressive 160 average for a 12-year-old while runners-up, Jocelyna and Cherfenny chalked up totals of 948 and 894 to finish second and third. Nicole Tan of Riverside Superbowl and Nerosha Keligit of Crystal Bowl rounded up the top 5.

Mr Allan Lee, Sukan Teras Manager for Youth Development, rolled the first ball of kickoff the event. On hand to present the prizes to the winners were Mr Sunny Si, President of ABAS and Mr Maradona Chok Khong Yau, Honorary Secretary of the Sabah Tenpin Bowling Association and Vice President of the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress.

Bowlers, parents and officials were also treated to a light refreshment after the prize presentation. The SportExcel-NSC-Milo-MTBC Junior Circuit Sarawak leg will commence tomorrow (June 22nd) at Riverside Superbowl and end on Sunday 24th.

Photos by Robert Lu, ABAS.