29th March, P.Jaya: Malaysia's Azidi Ameran and Filipino Liza Del Rosario were crowned the 26th Sports Toto-MAS Malaysian International Open Bowling Championship Masters champions at Pyramid Megalanes, Sunway Lagoon Resort this afternoon. Azidi defeated Paulo Valdez of the Philippines while Liza ousted Shalin Zulkifli over two games in the stepladder finals.

It could have been perfect couple victory, but it was so close yet so far, for Shalin Zulkifli and Azidi Ameran in the Malaysian International Bowling Championship which ended this afternoon. But still it was an occasion to celebrate for the duo, as Azidi beat Philippines's Paulo Valdez in grand fashion in the men's Masters stepladder finals.

It was the 30-year-old Azidi's first major individual title and naturally he was elated - infact in tears after his last throw as he hugged Shalin. And it was and an even more meaningful victory for Azidi because he had only returned to the national team last June for the Asian Bowling championship in Hong Kong after being out of the national team for four years.

Azidi took the first match 232-211 to force top-seed Paulo into the sudden-death roll-off. In the last game, Azidi demolished Pualo 279-205 for a well earned win.

In the first match amongst 4th-seed Tore Torgerson of Norway, 3rd-seed Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar and 6th-seed Hirosumi Morimoto of Japan, it was Ahmed who took the match with 237 to Morimoto's 178 and Tore's 226. There no match for the champion when Azidi won by defeating Shaheen and 2nd-seed Alvin Kwang of Singapore 245 to 193 and 224.

In the Ladies division, Filipino Liza Del Rosario also forced top-seed Shalin Zulkifli into a sudden-death roll-off after she took the first match 201-195. In the final crunch, it was a close fight between both the top ladies. Liza eventually got the better of Shalin to narrowly defeat her opponent 255-246.

The first stepladder match amongst 4th-seed Choy Poh Lai of Malaysia, 5th-seed Cecilia Yap of the Philippines and 6th-seed Sarah Yap of Malaysia, it was the home crowd support that pushed Poh Lai to win with 209 against Cecilia's 201 and Sarah's 153.

Poh Lai failed to progress further together with 2nd-seed Kirsten Penny of England after going down to the eventual champion, Liza Del Rosario 210-243 to Liza's 244.

The top 14 men and 14 ladies who qualified for the AVIVA Asian Bowling Tour 2003 Malaysia leg are: Men Azidi Ameran (MAS), Paulo Valdez (PHI), Alvin Kwang (SIN), Ahmed Shaheen (QAT), Daniel Lim (MAS), Zulmazran Z. (MAS), Duane Camacho (GUAM), Abdulla Al-Qatan (QAT), Chester King (PHI), Yuosif Falah (BAH), Saeed Al-Hajri (QAT), Biboy Rivera (PHI), Kao Hai Yuan (TPE) and Yannaphon L. (THA). H. Morimoto opted to pull out because he had to return to Japan.

Ladies Liza Del Rosario (PHI), Shalin Z. (MAS), Choy Poh Lai (MAS), Cecilia Yap (PHI), Sarah Yap (MAS), Yap Seok Kim (SIN), Wendy Chai (MAS), Wang Yu Ling (TPE), Evelyn Chan (SIN), Pan Yu Fen (TPE), Sharon Chai (MAS), Catherine Kang (SIN), Sheanny (INA) and Hon Shu Chun (TPE).

Story by Tony Maridass and photos by Tay Li Neo, Admin. Secretary/MTBC

28th March, P.Jaya: Selangor’s Micky Un bagged the Men’s Graded Masters title of the 26th Sports Toto-MAS Malaysian International Open Bowling Championship at Pyramid Megalanes, Sunway Lagoon Resort this evening while Girl’s Open champion, Zandra Azeila took her second title today when she won the Ladies’ Graded.

The computer accounting software sale executive snatched the victory from the National Interstate Singles Gold medallist, Sufian Othman from Melaka in the last series to total 3261 in the 15-games finals. Micky won himself RM8,000 for the win.

Sufian settled for second with 3195 while Heric Chong, an flight steward with Malaysia Airlines finished third with 3167. Heric took the from the 3rd series after a 10 consecutive strikes in the 9th game and was going for the second perfect game but managed only a 289 high game.

Selangor’s youth, Zaid Izlan who was leading after two series, fumbled and dropped to 4th with 3143.

In the Ladies division, Zandra Azeila took her second title of the day when she triumphed with a score of 2370 over the 12-games finals. The SUKMA Gold medallist, who is representating Malaysia in the 6th Asian Schools Championship next week in Penang had won the Girl’s Open Masters title in the morning.

Second was Siti Safiyah, also from Selangor who scored 2292 while Indonesia’s Tan Bie Sian took third place on 2220. Another 6th Asian Games-bound, Voon Kim Ling from Penang dropped to 4th after being 3rd most of the way.

Story and photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC

28th March, P.Jaya: Kirsten Penny of England shared the lead with Filipino lass Liza del Rosario in the first block Ladies Open Masters finals of the 26th Sports Toto-MAS Malaysian International Open Bowling Championship at Pyramid Megalanes, Sunway Lagoon Resort while Malaysia's Azidi Ameran tops the Men's division.

The reigning European champion, who finished third in the same tournament last year, scored 1865 to average an impressive 233.13 to share the lead with Asian Championship Singles Gold medalist, Liza del Rosario of the Philippines. The duo were only 18 pins ahead of third place Choy Poh Lai of Malaysia. A further 19 pins away came Malaysia Sportswoman of the Year and three-times Asian Ranked No. 1, Shalin Zulkifli with a score of 1828.

Sarah Yap kept in close contention with a superbed performance to finish 5th with 1805 while former AVIVA ABT winner, Yap Seok Kim of Singapore took 6th spot with 1784.

Wendy Chai was placed 11th with 1712 but within the qualifying positions for the AVIVA Asian Bowling Tour Malaysia leg while Sharon Chai (1691) and Lai Kin Ngoh (1590) finished 14th and 22nd.

In the Men's division, Malaysia's Azidi Ameran was outstanding when he scored 1896 to lead a strong field of 39 bowlers in the first block of 8 games today. He was ahead of Filipino Paulo Valdez by 13 pins while Chinese Taipei veteran, Kao Hai Yuan surprised to finish a strong third.

Azidi, who was part of the 5th World Tenpin Team Cup winning team which was crowned the world champion, hope to do well in this tournament to stand a chance of being selected for the World Championship in September.

1999 AMF World Cup champion and World Championship Gold medalist, Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar did well to keep in touch with the leaders in 4th with 1804 followed by Singapore's Alvin Kwang in 5th 1800. Malaysian National champion, Daniel Lim came next in 6th with 1775 with Ang Kean Joo in 7th just two pins away.

The Men and Ladies will continue their second block of 8 games tomorrow and at the end of the 16 games, the top 6 will make the cut for the stepladder finals. The top 14 Asian finishers will also qualify for the AVIVA Asian Bowling Tour Malaysia leg which will take place at the same centre on the 30th and 31st, March.

Story and photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC

28th March, P.Jaya: Selangor dominated the Milo International Youth Masters finals of the 26th Sports Toto-MAS Malaysian International Open Bowling Championship at Pyramid Megalanes, Sunway Lagoon Resort by taking three of the four divisions with Somjed K. of Thailand the sole winner in the Boy's Open.

The 17 year-old Zandra, a SUKMA Gold medalist and will be representing Malaysia in the 6th Asian Schools Championship next week in Penang, took the Girl's Open Masters title by almost 100 pins from her nearest rival. She scores an impressive 2217 to average 221.7.

Second was Nur Syakirah Yeoh of Kedah who scored 2016 while SportsExcel-NSC-Milo-MSSM Junior Circuit Perak Leg champion, Christyn Chew of Selangor finished 3rd with 1960.

In the Girl's Graded division, Siti Safiyah Amirah of Selangor was again a runaway winner with 1954, a masive 130 pins ahead of second place Low Xin Pin from Kuala Lumpur. Third came Penang's Saw Bee Gek with a score of 1740.

In the Boy's Graded division, Selangor's Jason Tan scored his maiden win when he bagged the title with 2010 total followed by Penang's Adrian Charles Dragon in second with 1997. Third spot went to Kelvin Tan also from Penang.

The Boy's Open division was however, fiercely fought. All top three psotions were taken up by the overseas boys.

Thailand's 16 year-old Somjed K. bagged the title with an impressive 222.90 in front of Korea's Oh Shin Young who score 2177. Tall and lanky, Yousif Falah from Bahrain did well to take third spot with 2172. Penang's Aaron Kong was the best Malaysian youth finishers taking 4th place with 2162.

Story and photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC