20th December, S.Prai: Victory for national elite squad kegler, Zulmazran Zulkifli was decided in the final position round match while Sharon Koh crusied to an emphatic win to claim the Men's and Ladies' Open Masters crowns of the 36th Penang Pesta International Open.

Zulmazran Zulkifli, whose only international title this year was winning the Malaysian International Open in March, had to work doubly hard to win his second. Zulmazran had trailed first block leader and national youth, Aris Ardila by 80 pins before the start of this morning's grueiling 16 games round-robin matchplay finals.

Aris, who was in top form and had continued to lead the field, was caught up by Zulmazran at the halfway mark and overturning an 80-pin deficit to lead Aris by 77 pins. The pace was so hotly contested that there was literally nothing seperating Zulmazran, Aris and Muhd Nur Aiman.

Aiman finished stronger than the two to lead after the fiftheen game to move into the position round finale, 10 pins ahead of Zulmazran while Aris finished a further 5 pins. Aiman was matched up against Zulmazran as Aris lined up against fourth-placed, Aaron Kong.

Two splits from Aiman put Zulmazran is a good position to snatch the title but Aris was on fire on the next pair of lanes against Aaron. Zulmazran struck home to end with 246 and take the 10 pin bonus for beating Aiman forcing Aris to also strike home.

But a stubborn pin 10 in Aris' final frame cost him the title and a sigh of relief was felt by Zulmazran. Despite winning the match against Aaron with 247 plus bonus 10 pin, the 17-year-old Sarawakian settled for second on a total of 5904.

Zulmazran clinched his first-ever Penang Pesta crown with a total of 5919. Muhd Nur Aiman was slightly disappointed to finish third after topping the field before the final match.

"I didn't want to come to Penang to compete but it was Aiman who convinced me to come," said the 25-year-old Zulmazran. "December is always a holiday season and that is why I've not come here for the past 4 years. I'm happy to have finally win in Penang though.

"It's also great to see young bowlers having so much talent and ability especially someone like Aris. I enjoyed competing with such powerful player. It also means that I've to train harder in order to be able to compete with these youngsters."

Meanwhile, two-time Chinese Taipei Open champion and first block leader, Sharon Koh had a much easier victory in the Ladies' Open division. Sharon had accummulated a comfortable margin of 107 pins going into today's 10-game round-robin matchplay finals.

Her lead had stretched to 178 pins at the halfway mark with Korea's Kim Eun Jung trailing leaving national youth Jacqueline Sijore and backup bowler, Sin Li Jane fighting out third position.

Sharon's position round match against Kim was a formality regardless of the result and she secured the crown with a total of 4292. Kim settled for second with 4215 while the IV Commonwealth Championship two gold medalist, Sin Li Jane claimed third spot with 4037.

"I finished fourth last year and I'm very happy to have won here this time," said the 20-year-old Sharon. "This year has been great for me having regaiedn the national title in the beginning of the year and also to win the Chinese Taipei Open for two consecutive years.

Zulmazran won RM10,000 for his effort and Sharon Koh took home RM5,000 for her victory. The 36th edition of the most popular year-end international open is supported by the Penang State Tourism Board and the Penang State Sports Council.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

19th December, S.Prai: Newly-crowned Boy's Open Masters champion and national youth, Aris Ardila Santosh upstaged his senior national team-mates to take a comfortable lead in the Men's Open first block Masters of the 36th Penang Pesta International Open while Sharon Koh top the Ladies' division.

Fresh from winning the Boy's Open Masters title for the second consecutive year, the 17-year-old Aris Ardila surprised the field when he scorched the lanes to end the 10-game first block finals with a total of 2299.

Except for the opening game, Aris Ardila led from the second game onwards and stretching his lead to as much as 131 pins after the seventh game. National backup squad member, Zaid Izlan was the only kegler who was able to draw close to the lead but dropped off the pace in the end.

AMF World Cup semifinalist, Zulmazran Zulkifli, who started off poorly, crawled his way up to second with a total of 2219 but trailed Aris by 80 pins. World Youth Masters gold medalist, Aaron Kong stormed home with two massive games of 279 and 269 to snatch third spot with 2218.

Defending champion, Muhd Nur Aiman was at one stage challenging for the lead but could not keep pace with the leading bunch finishing seventh behind two-time Indonesian Open champion, Alex Liew and Ancol Open champion, Adrian Ang in fifth and sixth places respectively.

In the Ladies' Open division, two-time Chinese Taipei Open champion, Sharon Koh ended the first block with a comfortable margin of 107 pins. Koh had taken over the lead in the second half after Youth Girl's Open first runner-up, Tengku Emanina and Korean Kim Eun Jung were fighting for the lead in the first half.

The leader amassed a total of 2098 with Kim Eun Jung finishing second with 1991. National youth, Jacqueline Sijore from Sawarawk, snatched third spot with 1976 with IV Commonwealth Championship two gold medalist, Sin Li Jane fourth with 1960.

The Men's Open field is cut to 16 and the Ladies' Open to 10. The men they will play 15 round-robin matchplay games and the position round while the ladies will play 9 plus 1 position round to determine the champions with pins carried forward from the first block.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

19th December, S.Prai: Malaysian national youths from Sarawak swept clean the Youth Girl's and Boy's Open Masters titles of the 36th Penang Pesta International Open with Dayang Khairuniza and Aris Ardila Santosh emerging as champions on Saturday morning.

National youth from Pahang, Johnathan Chan opened with s superb 255 to lead reigning national champion and national youth, Fahmi Bahri from Johor in second with 235 and another national youth from Pahang, Rodson Tong third.

The burly Rodson took over the running after the second game and led until newly-crowned Youth Boy's Open champion, Aris Ardila Santosh fired 235 and 278 in games four and five to surge into the front of the pack.

It was all Aris in the second half of the 10-game finals as the 17-year-old national youth squad member from Miri fired all cylinders stretching his lead from 79 pins at the halfway mark to end the finals on a total of 2208 and 130 pins from his nearest rival.

Johnathan Chan and Rodson Tong, who traded second on several occasions, ended in the same order with Chan taking second on 2078 and Rodson third on 2053.

"I've won several titles in the youth category and the Men's Open finals later today will be my big test against the senior nationals," said Aris when being interviewed by local press media after his victory. "I'm not hoping too much from it but I hope to do well which hopefully will give me a chance to get into next year's backup squad.

In the girl's division, Sarawak had plenty to cheer as national youth, Dayang Khairuniza, led from start to finish to captured the Girl's Open Masters crown with 2139. Another national youth, Tengku Emanina Laily from Kedah settled for second with 2048, 95 pins from the champion.

"It's nice to win this title which will give me more confidence when I bowl in the Ladies' Open Masters later," said the 17-year-old Khairuniza from Kuching. "I've improved a lot since joining the national youth and for sure I'm hoping for more success.

National youth, Fatin Syazliana from Penang did well to take third spot with 2024 considering having laid off for more than 8 months from a knee surgery. Jacqueline J Sijore and Syaidatul Afifah of Perak rounded up the top 5.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

18th December, S.Prai: Malaysian national youths, Aris Ardila Santosh and Kang Bo Long domnated the Men's Open Masters qualifying rounds of the on-going 36th Penang Pesta International Open on Thursday.

Aris Ardila Santosh, whose first attempt in the Youth Boy's Open Masters qualifying was an impressive 925, scorched the lanes at Mega Lanes Prai with a scintilating 1008 this morning. Aris knocked down 226, 245, 279 and 258 to take over the lead in the Men's Open table.

With several youth titles to his credit, Aris will be full of confidence when he takes on his more senior national bowlers in the finals this weekend. To top it off, the Sarawakian also recorded another impressive 925 in his singles the same day.

Singapore Open Youth champion, Kang Bo Long was equally impressive when he reeled off 1001 to give Malaysia a one-two finish. Kang started off with 266, followed by 278, 222 and 235 to round off his first and only attempt.

Newly-crowned Pahang International Open, Daniel Lim found his old spark to post 934 and taking up third spot in the local pool and fourth overall. Saudi's ex-national, Yousef Akbar improved his score t 916 to finish second in the mixed pool behind Singapore's Jeremy Fang on 938.

Other national elite squad members, Adrian Ang, Aaron Kong, Alex Liew, Zulmazran Zulkifli and backup squad member, Kelvin Keong occupied fifth to ninth positions in the local table.

Meanwhile, two-time Chinese Taipei Open champion, Sharon Koh surged into the top of the Ladies' Open Masters qualifying standings with 841 followed by two gold medalist in the Comonwealth Championship, Sin Li Jane in second with 836.

Overnight leader, Choy Poh Lai dropped to third on her 822 scoreline ahead of backup squad member, Christyn Chew fourth with 818 and national youth, Fatin Syazliana fifth with 715.

Last year's Asian Ranked No. 1, Kim Eun Jung of Korea, who is residing in Penang and studying English in a local college, posted 811 to head the mixed pool. Newly-crowned Girl's Under-16 Masters champion, New Hui Fen of Singapore and Singapore Sports Schools' Steffi Tham third with 760.

Qualifying will end late tonight and the Masters finals will be staged over the next two days. The top 16 men and top 10 ladies at the end of the 10-game first block finals will advance to the round-robin finals and position round on Saturday to determine this year's champion.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

18th December, S.Prai: Indonesia Open first runnerup, Christopher Hwang and Asian Intercity Championship Masters gold medalist, New Hui Fen of Singapore, swept the Boy's and Girl's Under-16 Masters title of the 36th Penang Pesta International Open Thursday morning.

Singapore youngster, Willie Quek set a cracking pace with 237 in the opening game to lead team-mate, Basil Low 6 pins ahead. Low then overpowered Quek to take over the running for the next two games.

A poor 172 from Low in the fourth game saw Perak's Mohamad Azlan grabbing the lead but just 1 pin ahead of the Singapore youth. Low regained the lead after a recovring 247 in the fifth and was looking set to take the title.

His other team-mate, Christopher Hwang was quietly closing in on the leaders and with 233, 196, 244 and 205 in the second half of the 8-game finals, Hwang was able to cruise to a comfortable victory with a total of 1678.

Low settled for second, 47 pins adrift on 1631 while Mohamad Azlan took third spot with 1619. Pace-setter, Willie Quek and Sarawak's Chong Jun Foo rounded up the top 5 and in the money with 1606 and 1560.

The Girl's Under-16 crown went to Asian Intercity Championship Masters gold medalist, New Hui Fen of Singapore who totaled 1657. A keen tussle for the lead was witnessed in the first half of the finals between New and Kedah's Tengku Aimi Laily.

New shot a low 159 in the sixth game to hand the running to Penang's Maisarah Bte Rozali but the Singapore youth bounced back with 258 and 247 to romp home to a comfortable victory, 63 pins ahead of her nearest rival.

Maisarah settled for second with 1594 while Singapore Sports Schools' Tan Yan Ling stormed home to snatch third spot with 1525. Tengku Aimi finished fourth with 1492.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

17th December, S.Prai: Malaysian national elite squad member, Choy Poh Lai is eyeing for her first Ladies' Open Masters title of the 36th Penang Pesta International Open after topping the table on Wednesday.

Choy, who has yet to win an individual international title, will be hoping to break the ice when she takes to the lanes for the Masters finals this weekend. The 27-year-old posted 822 to top the Ladies' Open Masters qualifying table.

Two-time Chinese Taipei Open champion and teammate, Sharon Koh will be trying to win her third title this year when she puts in her challenge in the finals. Last year's Asian Ranked No. 1, Kim Eun Jung of Korea topped the mixed pool with a socre of 811.

Asian Intercity Masters gold edalist, New Hui Fen of Singapore is second with 791 while Steffi Tham of Singapore Sports School is third with 760.

Meanwhile, newly-crowned Ancol Open champion and Asian Championship Masters gold medalist, Adrian Ang lead the Men's Open table with a four-game total of 930. His national elite squad teammate, Aaron Kong is second with 917.

Two-time Indonesia champion, Alex Liew finished third with 878. Saudi Arabia's Yousef Akbar topped the mixed pool with 838 followed by Singapore's Khoo Kok Beng and seasoned veteran, Jack Wong of ATBC in second and third with 813 and 809 respectively.

The top 8 qualifiers from the Men's Open local pool, top 19 local and overseas qualifiers from the mixed pool plus defending champion, Muhd Nur Aiman will bowl 10 games in the Masters finals on Friday in which the field will be cut to 16 for Saturday's round-robin finals.

The top 6 qualifiers from the Ladies' Open local pool, top 11 local and overseas qualifiers from the mixed pool plus defending champion will also bowl 10 games in which the field will be cut to 10 for Saturday's round-robin finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

17th December, S.Prai: Selangor's young keglers wrested the MILO Under-12 Boys and Girls titles of the 36th Penang Pesta International Open at Mega Lanes on Wednesday morning.

Petite Natasha Bte Mohd Roslan was a class above the field of 20 girls as she led from start to finish. The 12-year-old open her campaign with a superb 236 and continued to post consistent lines of 194, 191 and easing off with 176 for a 797 total to scroll to victory.

Jacelyn Ng of Sarawak came in a distant second with 752 while Siti Nut Zulaika of Kuala Lumpur took third spot with 663. Ayra Nur Jehan of Selangor and Nur Ameera Husna of Kedah rounded up the top five with 655 and 641 respectively.

The MILO Under-12 Boy's division, Wan Nazmi Fikri made it a double for Selangor when he stormed home in his fourth and final game to snatch the title from leader, Wan Mohamad Aiman of Perak.

Despite starting off with a low 143, the 12-year-old bounced back with 188, 202 and 215 for a 748 total to win the title with an average of 87. Wan Mohd Aiman, who was leading before the final game, managed only 138 to hand the title to Wan Nazmi.

The runnerup amassed a total of 676 to finish second followed by Penang's Sharmin Mathihalagan in third with 645. Perak's Mohd Farhan Azri took fourth spot with 631 while Singapore's Logeswaran Elangovan finished fifth with 628.

Mr. Mark Richman, General Manager of Singapore Sports School and Mr. William Woo, National coach of Singapore were invited to present the prizes to the winners. The winners took home a trophy each plus the MILO hampers courtesy of Nestle Products (M) Sdn Bhd.

Photos by Terence Yaw.