31st January, Ipoh: Selangor successfully retained the Overall Champions' title when Siti Khadijah and Shalin Zulkifli rounded up another outstanding 18th Malaysian Interstate Bowling Championship with two more Gold medals collecting a total of 13 Gold out of a possible 16.

Both Siti Khadijah and Shalin Zulkifli made history when they collected all four Gold medals after winning the All Events, Team of 4, Doubles and Singles event in the Girls and Women division. Siti Khadijah totalled 3658 over 18-games to claim her fourth Gold with Perak's Nazrinnah claiming the Silver with 3391 while teammate, Amalyna Kelana took the Bronze medal with 3367. Kuala Lumpur's Noor Hanizah finished fourth with 3356.

Selangor's quartet of Siti Khadijah, Christyn Chew, Siti Safiyah and Amalyna Kelana clinched the Girls Team of 4 Gold medal with a score of 4467 after leading in both the two blocks. Sin Li Jane, Nor Atteya, Nazrinnah and Elaine Lam snatched the Silver for Perak by 7 pins in the last and final game from Penang with 4344.

Fatin Syazliana, Diyana Zuhaili, Johara Johari and Saw Bee Gek settled for the Bronze with 4337 while Kuala Lumpur again finished fourth with 4003.

Shalin picked up her fourth Gold after she amassed 3670 ahead of teammate, Sarah Yap by 169 pins. Yap took home the Silver with 3481 while retiring national kegler, Lai Kin Ngoh won the Bronze medal for Penang with 3372.

There was literally no fight in the Women's Team event when Selangor's quartet of Zandra Aziela, Sarah Yap, Wendy Chai and Shalin Zulkifli outclassed the field with a 249 pins margin to win the Gold with 4558. Penang's Voon Kim Ling, Syawaliza Rosli, Esther Cheah and Lai Kin Ngoh could only manage 4209 for the Silver medal. Sarawak took home the Bronze medal with 3984.

Selangor amassed 15 Gold, 2 Silver and 4 Bronze for 83 points to retain the Overall Champions' title. Penang finished second despite only picking up 1 Gold medal. The other two Gold medals went to Sarawak in the Boy's Team event and host, Perak in the Boy's All Events.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC

31st January, Ipoh: Host state, Perak and Sarawak struck their first Gold medal of the 18th Malaysian Interstate Bowling Championship at Ampang Superbowl this evening as Mohammad Khusairi Basha captured the Boy's All Events while Sarawak Boys Team claimed the Team of 4 event.

The 16-year-old celebrated his first-ever win in a major tournament after he amassed a total of 3466 to hang on to the win by 10 pins from Doubles Gold medalist and national youth, Zaid Izlan of Selangor.

Before the start of the second block of the Team of 4 event, Khusairi had a 33 pin lead and did not do well with 179 and 172 in his fourth and fifth game to allow Zaid to take a 19 pin lead with 180 and 225. But the SMK Rapat Setia Form 4 student kept his cool and brought home 184 in his final game while Zaid could only manage a 153 handling the Gold medal to Khusairi.

Zaid settled for the Silver, just 10 pins adrift on 3456 while Kedah's Khairul Hafidz came home strongly to take the Bronze with 3438. Singles Gold medalist, Eric Ang fizzled out in the Team event to finish fourth with 3428.

Sarawak also celebrated a fine win after the quartet of Isaac Russell, Alex Tan, Aris Ardilla and Ruzaini Mohd Ghazali captured the Boy's Team of 4 Gold medal. The Sarawak boys were leading the first block of 3 games bowled this morning and were able to maintain the gap to finish first with a total score of 4510.

"We were able to cover each other throughout the 6 games and thanks to Aris who bowled well in the first block while Alex was superb in the second," said the national youth, Isaac Russell, who also won the Boy's Team Gold last year.

"We are very proud of our boys in this championship for which I am leading as a Team Manager for the first time," said Wagiman Kassim. "Before the start of the team event, I told my boys to make sure that they achieve their target average and if they can do this, there is a strong chance of a medal," said coach, Gary Wee.

Johor surprised the field of 14 teams to claim the Silver medal. Afiq Rifqi, Fahmi Bahri, Mohd Haikal and GP Finals champion, Muhd Nur Aiman totalled 4404 while Selangor's Zaid Izlan, Kelvin Keong, Jonathan Lim Chee Weng and Aiman Kelana finished third for the Bronze with 4377. Penang missed out on the medal to take fourth place.

Meanwhile, Selangor added two more Gold medals to their haul when Daniel Lim, Zulmazran Zulkifli, Mohd Nadri and Alex Liew claimed the Men's Team Gold with 4642. Negeri Sembilan's Mohd Zahar, Mohd Razi, Rosli Malek and national bowler, Azidi Ameran did well to clinch the Silver medal with 4525.

Sarawak took the Bronze medal when State Champion, Peter Pu led his teammates, Norhazaidi Tahir, Leonard Leong and reigning national champion, Jonathan Lim to a 4501 team total ahead of Penang, again settling for fourth with 4439.

Last year, Daniel Lim swept all the four Gold medals of the Men's division and this year, Daniel won his third Gold after topping the All Events table with 3792. Peter Pu of Sarawak settled for the Silver medal with 3609 while Singles Gold medalist, Alex Liew took the Bronze with 3579.

"I struggled in the Singles and could only manage a 12th placing so I decided to try a different ball," said Daniel. "I used my Columbia Wired and the ball help me alot as it has a wider area going down the lanes," added the triple Gold medalist.

It is certain for Selangor to retain the Overall Champions trophy for yet another year. They have amassed 9 Gold, 1 Silver, 5 Bronze medals for a 57 points total. Penang is still in second despite only winning 1 Gold, 4 Silver and four 4th placings on 21 points. Sarawak is only 3 points adrift on 18 points from 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

The Girls and Women will complete their Team of 4 event this evening for another two Gold at stake. The 29th Malaysian National championship will continue tomorrow (1st January) with the Masters finals scheduled on the 2nd and 3rd February.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC

30th January, Ipoh: Selangor almost had a perfect end to their second day at the 18th Malaysian Interstate Bowling Championship when Shalin Zulkifli and Sarah Yap claimed Selangor's seventh Gold medal in the Women's Doubles event.

Singles Gold medalist and reigning National champion, Shalin Zulkifli teamed up with Sarah Yap to score 2458 to claim the Gold medal with a comfortable margin of 256 pins. Selangor almost finished 1-2 but Penang's Syawaliza Rosli and national kegler, Esther Cheah split the women by finishing second to take the Silver medal with 2202.

"I bowled much better today after having adjusted to the lanes from two days of bowling," said Shalin, who had 8 consecutive strikes in the fourth game. "We changed lines to bowl in this event as well as trying out a different ball and it paid off," said Wendy.

Shalin knocked down 1239 while Yap score 1219. ABF Tour Grand Slam champion, Wendy Chai and Commonwealth Youth Games Gold medalist, Zandra Aziela came home third for the Bronze with 2194 total.

National youth, Sharon Koh and Romahanum of Kuala Lumpur finished a creditable fourth pace with 2074.

"I was struggling a bit yesterday and I decided to have my bowling balls polished. After that I was able to get better score," said the 18-year-old Esther Cheah.

Shalin Zulkifli looks set for another Gold medal leading the Women's All Events standings with 2455 after two events. Sarah Yap is second with 2357 while ex-national, Tang Joh Six maintained third in the table with 2292.

After two days of hectic competition, Selangor has built up a insurmountable lead in the Overall Medal tally hauling 7 Gold, 2 Bronze medals and a 4th placing for a total of 40 points. Penang has 1 Gold, 4 Silver medals and a 4th placing on 18 points while Sarawak is third with 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal.

The Team of 4 events will be contested tomorrow (31st January) over two blocks of 3 games each with 8 medals at stake from the Team and All Events. The top 3 finishers in the All Events standings in each category wil automatically quaify for the 28th Malaysian National Championship Masters Finals which will be played on 2nd and 3rd February.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC

30th January, Ipoh: Amalyna Kelana and Siti Khadijah put up a scintillating display to bag Selangor's sixth Gold medal in the Girls Doubles at the 18th Malaysian Interstate Bowling Championship this evening.

Amalyna Kelana, a Form 4 student of Sekolah Sri Bestari teamed up with Singles Gold medalist, Siti Khadijah to a comfortable win after displaying their prowess to bag Selangor's sixth Gold medal with a total combined score of 2482. It was a perfect paring as each bowler managed to cover each other with Amalyna Kelana 246, 255, 207 in her first 3 games while Siti helped her partner with 209, 214, 211 in the second 3 games of their 6-game event.

"I am glad to win my first-ever Gold medal in the Interstate Championship," said the 15-year-old, who only managed a Bronze medal in last year's event. Asked what her ambition was in the sport, Amalyna replied that she only wanted to bowl for the state and has no intention of hoping to become a national bowler but only to take up a course in food technology.

"We are glad to have won sixth Gold so far and my target in this championship is to help my state to retain the Overall Champions title," said Siti Khadijah after winning her second Gold medal.

National youth, Yap Pui Yee and Noor Hanizah of Kuala Lumpur finished strongly to snatch the Silver medal with a total score of 2255 with Nazrinnah Bte Md Kamil and Nor Atteya of Perak settling for the Bronze medal with 2251. Selangor's other pair of Christyn Chew and Siti Safiyah took fourth spot with 2212.

After two events and 12 games played, Siti Khadijah and Amalyna Kelana occupied the top 2 position of the Girl's All Events table with 2527 and 2354 respectively and look set to another Gold medal. Kuala Lumpur's Noor Hanizah is third with 2306.

Selangor is way in front in the Overall Medal tally with 6 Gold, 1 Silver and a 4th placing totalling 33 points. Penang trails the leader by 18 points on 15 from 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 4th placing with Sarawak in third with 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal.

The Women will end the second day of the Interstate competition with their doubles event later this evening.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC

30th January, Ipoh: Selangor was on a roll when the Men and Boys captured another two more Gold medals from the Doubles event of the 18th Malaysian Interstate Bowling Championship this morning at Ampang Superbowl Ipoh Parade.

Singles Gold medalist, Alex Liew took his second Gold in the championship with an fine performane when he partnered national kegler, Daniel Lim to a runaway win in the Men's Doubles event. Liew scored 1253 while Lim turned in an outstanding performance to record the highest 6-game series on 1343 to give the pair a combined total of 2596.

Penang's Adrian Ang and Aaron Kong, both members of the national squad, finished 229 pins behind the champion to claim the Silver with 2367 while Negeri Sembilan's Mohd Zahar and Rosli Malek surprised the field to to finish third for the Bronze medal with 2315.

Labuan's Jaffri Sulaiman and Sudirman Salim took fourth place to score their first-ever point since joining championship last year. National kegler, Azidi Ameran partnered Mohd Razi to finish fifth spot.

Earlier, Zaid Izlan and young Jonathan Chee Weng Lim gave Selangor their fourth Gold medal when the duo accummulated 2296 in the Boy's Doubles event. Zaid knocked down 1203 while Lim, a form 4 student of SMK USJ contributed 1093. Sarawak's Alex Tan and national youth, Issaac Russell claimed the Silver with 2277 followed by Mohd Khusairi and Eric Lim settling for the Broze medal with 2262.

Early pace-setter and national youths, Muhd Nur Aiman and Fahmi Bahri of Johor fizzled out in the second half of the 6-game doubles event to end up in fourth place.

After two events, Alex Liew and Daniel Lim occupied the top 2 positions in the Men's All Events table with 2534 and 2484 comfortably ahead of Muhd Bakri of Kedah in third with 2404. Adrian ang and Aaron Kong of Penang are fourth and fifth with 2390 and 2383 respectively.

On the other hand, Sinlges Silver medalist, Muhd Azfal Alif of Perlis topped the Boy's All Events table with 2434 followed by Johor's Muhd Nur Aiman in second with 2331 and Mohd Khusairi of Perak in third with 2298.

Selangor streched their lead in the Overall Medal tally with 5 Gold and 1 Silver on 27 points with arch rival, Penang in second with 1 Gold, 3 Silver and a fourth placing on 15 points. Sarawk moved up to third with 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal. The Girls will contest their Doubles event later today with the Women in the evening.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC

29th January, Ipoh: Alex Liew brought home another Gold medal for Selangor at the end of Day 1 of the 18th Malaysian Interstate Bowling Championship hauling three out of a possible four.

Alex Liew, who won his first individual Gold medal from the same event in the Interstate Championship two years ago, got his second this evening when he stormed home in the final game of the Men's Singles event to give Selangor their third Gold of the day. Their first two came from Siti Khadijah Osman and Shalin Zulkifli in the Girls and Women Singles event.

"I knew I was in the top 5 at the halfway mark and that I had to bowl high games to catch up with the leaders. I then had to change to a straighter angle after game 4 and it paid off with scores of 233 and 236," said the the 32-year-old Proshop supervisor.

Liew shot to the front to snatch the Gold medal from pace-setter, Jonathan Lim with a total of 1281. Lim, meanwhile settled for the Silver

with a score of 1243 with 5th MILO International Junior All Stars champion, Aaron Kong claiming the Bronze medal with 1236.

"I wasn't sure that I was leading the field and only thought I was in the top 2," said the reigning National Champion. "I am still happy to have finished second and won the Silver." Asked how Lim would rate his chances of retaining the title, he said he will do his best and will be happy if he could finish in the top 3 in the finals. 15-year-old, Adrian Ang finished fourth to claim 1 point for Penang while newcomer, Muhd Izhan Muhd Nor competed the top 5 in fifth place.

Selangor is leading the Medal tally with 3 Gold and 1 Bronze on a total of 17 points followed by their arch rival, Penang in second with 12 points from 3 Silver medals and 1 4th placing. Sarawak move up to third with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze on 5 points.

The bowlers will continue with the Doubles event tomorrow (30th January) and will end the the championship with the Team event on Monday, 31st January. The top 3 from each of the four divisons will automatically qualify for the Malaysian National Championship Masters finals schedued for 2nd and 3rd February.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC

29th January, Ipoh: National youth, Eric Ang had another perfect start to his 18th Malaysian Interstate Championship campaign when he snatched the Boys' Singles Gold at Ampang Superbowl Ipoh this evening.

The 18-year-old KDU electrical and telecommunication engineering student at KDU in Seberang Prai, snatched the Gold after a superb 268 and 212 in the last two games of the 6-game singles event from leader, Muhd Azfal Alif of Perlis. Ang recorded moderate scores of 201, 178, 213 and 200 in his first four games and was in the top 10 before finishing home strongly with a total of 1272.

"This is my first individual medal in the Interstate representing Penang since 2002 and I'm glad I can finally deliver a Gold medal for my state," said Ang, who shot a perfect game on Wednesday in his Malaysian National Championship qualifying round. "My aim is to do well in the Masters finals and I'll be happy if I can finish amongst the top 5 especially bowling against our national bowlers."

Perlis youngster, Muhd Afzal Alif settled for the Silver medal and must be disppointed not being able to hang on to win the Gold after leading most of the way. Muhd Afzal totalled 1231, 22 pins ahead of SUKMA Singles Gold medalist, Aiman Kelana of Selangor, who knocked down 1209. Jason Yam scored 1 point for Penang for finishing fourth with 1190.

After three events, Selangor topped the medal tally and look strong to retain their Overall Champions title with 2 Gold and 1 Bronze medal on 12 points. Penang trails Selangor in second with 1 Gold and 1 Silver on 9 points. The Men will complete the first day's competition with their Singles event which will start later this evening.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC

29th January, Ipoh: Four-time National Champion, Shalin Zulkifli proved this afternoon why she is the best women bowler in the country when she outclassed her opponents to bag Selangor's second Gold medal in the Women Singles event of the 18th Malaysian Interstate Bowling Championship.

The 26-year-old final year Sports Science Universiti Malaya undergraduate, scorched the lanes at Ampang Superbowl in Ipoh Parade with lines of 209, 181, 203, 217, 195 and 211 for a total of 1216. Shalin was the only bowler in the field of 48 women to record above the 200-mark average. Outgoing national kegler, Lai Kin Ngoh of Penang took the silver medal, 45 pins adrift while ex-national, Tang Joh Six from Kuching, Sarawak settled for the Bronze medal with 1140.

32nd Penang Pesta Youth Girls Open champion, Sharon Koh, who was second at the halfway mark dropped to fourth with 1139 while early pace-setter, Sarah Yap of Selangor fizzled out for fifth spot on 1138.

"The conditions at Ampang Superbowl is neither easy nor difficult and the bowlers only need to be more adaptive," said National Chief coach, Chris Batson, who is in Ipoh to see how the national bowlers perform.

"As you can see that the conditions is fair with a right-handed bowler, a left-hander and a spinner taking the top three spots," added Batson.

The Boys will be taking onto the lanes for their Singles event after they are re-dressed while the Men will round off the first day of competition later tonight.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC

29th January, Ipoh: Siti Khadijah struck the first Gold medal for Selangor in the 18th Malaysian Interstate Bowling Championship underway at Ampang Superbowl Ipoh with Perak's Sin Li Jane taking the Silver and Wan Nur Atiqqa of Johor the Bronze.

The 3rd-year Business Administration undergraduate of KDU, led from start to finish with a total score of 1298 to claim Selangor's first Gold medal of the championship. Khadijah had lines of 221, 232, 207, 233, 204 and 201 to win by a comfortable margin of 151 pins from local favourite and champion of the Peter Yap's Memorial Cup Girls division, Sin Li Jane.

"I didn't even know that I was leading until the the last game," said the 20-year-old. "Last year, I was late for the same event and only started the Singles in the eight frame of the 6-game block and eventually finished 22nd. This year, I made sure it would happen again and I'm so happy that I can make amends and win the first gold medal for Selangor." "My coach told me to stay focus and make sure I get my target in my delivery and that has paid off."

Sin Li Jane settled for the Silver medal with a total of 1147 while a good game in the sixth and final game from Johor's Wan Nur Atiqqa allowed her to pip Kuala Lumpur's Yap Pui Yee for the Bronze medal with 1133. Pui Yee ended up in fourth place.

The women will be contesting their Singles event immediately after lane maintenance and Selangor contingent is confident that with the likes of Shalin Zulkifli, Sarah Yap, Wendy Chai and Zandra Aziela, they will stand a strong chance of picking up another gold.

Attached please find photos of the Girls Singles winners (L to R): Sin Li Jane, Siti Khadijah and Wan Nur Atiqqa and the Gold medalist individual photo, Siti Khadijah.

Photos by Terence Yaw/MTBC.