23rd March, K.Lumpur: Last year's national youth, Aris Ardila Santosh of Sarawak and Adlin Nadhirah Ghazali of Negeri Sembilan ended a gruelling 48-game roll-off to finish in pole position of the National Youth Selection Roll-Off 2008 at Mega Lanes Endah Parade on Sunday.

Aris Ardila Santosh, who was fourth after the fifth block, displayed tremendous determination to end the gruelling 48-game roll-off in pole position with a total of 10156 pinfalls to remain in the national youth squad.

The 17-year-old started the first 8 games in fourth with 1738 as Penang's Adrian Charles Dragon took the lead with 1801 and Selangor's Kelvin Keong in second with 1766. Aris suffered a slight setback as he dropped to 12th after the second 8 games while Johor's Kang Bo Long took over the lead.

The Sarawakian improved slightly to seventh after the third block whilst Pahang's Johnathan Chan grabbed the lead and second block leader dropping to third and first block leader, Adrian Charles Dragon also dropping to sixth.

Aris rebounded with the highest 8-game series in the fourth block to finish second behind leader, Johnathan Chan and despite dropping to fourth after the fifth block, Aris fought back again to clinch pole.

Johor's Mohd Haziq B Sahli and overnight leader, Johnathan Chan finished second and third with 10088 and 10036 respectively. The other 5 youths who got selected into this year's national youth squads were Kelvin Keong (SEL-9979), Kang Bo Long (JOH-9978), Tengku Muhd Yasser (SEL-9923), Afiq Rifqi (JOH-9922), Mohd Zaim (SAB-9853) and Noor Afizal Azizan (NSE-9838).

Meanwhile, Adlin Nadhirah Ghazali of Negeri Sembilan, who took over the lead after the fourth block, went on to end the roll-off in front of 20 youth girls with a total of 9310. National Junior Circuit GP Finals champion, Hee Kar Yen, who failed to get selected last year, finally made the cut in second with 9281.

Johor's Siti Shazwani Bt Ahmad Suhaimi, who led second and third block, finished third with 9195 ahead of Penang's Diyana Zuhaili in fourth with 9071 while Tunku Haifaa Bt Tunku Osman of Pahang completed the top 5 with 9042.

Two Sarawakians, Audrey Alexander and Nurafidza Bt Mohd Amran surprised the strong field to get selected in sixth and seventh positions on totals of 8911 and 8891 as Sabah's Siti Aishatun Hussin clinched the last spot in eighth with 8879.

Photos by B.C. Cheah, MTBC.