22nd September, Kuala Lumpur: The colours, aromas and friendly hospitality of Malaysia will be treasured memories for the 1,000-plus bowlers and officials from 65 countries who attended the 15th WTBA World Tenpin Bowling Championships. The event will go down in history for its excitement, efficient scheduling and above all, its sportsmanship and camaraderie.

It is the last time that a combined Men's and Women's World Championship will be staged, with the popularity of the sport and increasing size of the event requiring separate Men's and Women's Championships in future. The logistics involved in hosting a Championship for more than 600 bowlers and an equal number of officials and supporters is immense. Time limitations for athletes has been another important consideration for the WTBA, the sport's international governing body, with the first Women's World Championships to be held in Denmark in August 2005.

The nostalgia of the last combined World Championships was blended with a fast-paced, well-organised and high-scoring event that produced a total of five perfect games and smashed 16 previous World Championship records.

Amedeo Spada of Italy was the first to achieve the magic 300 during the Championship, followed by Darren Cundy from England, Kimmo Lehtonen from Finland and teammates Martin Larsen and Anders Ohman from Sweden.

The 3-game and 6-game records in the Men's Doubles toppled at the beginning of the Championship when Tomas Leandersson and Anders Ohman from Sweden established new marks of 1514 and 2906 respectively.

In the Women's Doubles, England's multi-medallists Zara Glover and Kirsten Penny overtook the records established in 1999 with 1377 for 3 games and an outstanding 2737 for 6 games, and at the same time smashed the long-standing record for 1-game held since 1987 by Sweden when they scored 513.

The Women's Trios was also a bonanza of record-breaking scores. On their path to the Gold medal, Liza del Rosario, Liza Clutario and Cecilia Yap from The Philippines swept aside the 1999 6-game high with a 3793 flourish. USA trio Annita Manns, Lucy Sandelin and Diandra Hyman upset the 3-game record with a 2062, while Korea's Kim Soo Kyung, Choi Jin A and Cha Mi Jung set the new mark for 1-game of Trios at 728.

In the Men's Teams, Sweden's Martin Blixt, Martin Larsen, Patrick Backe, Anders Ohman and Tomas Leandersson overtook the 3-game record previously held by Germany posting a 3259 total, while in the Women's division, Malaysia's Sarah Yap, Choy Poh Lai, Sharon Chai, Wendy Chai and Shalin Zulkifli set new records of 6208 for 6 games and 1151 for 1-game. Sweden's Eva Jonsson, Helen Johnsson, Christel Carlsson, Linda Haglund and Malin Glendert set the new benchmark for 3 games with an impressive 3335, also outbowling the Men's Teams at this year's Championship.

Top qualifier in the Men's All Events, Sweden's Anders Ohman scorched Michael Sasson's 1995 record with a stunning 5480 total, while Tim Mack from the USA and Liza Clutario from The Philippines set new highs in the Men's and Women's Matchplay records with 3943 and 3573 respectively. Triple Gold-medallist Zara Glover from England added the record for 24 Games in All Events to her impressive tally.

Other highlights of the 2003 Championship included Colombia's Rocio Restrepo's Silver medal in the Women's Singles. The 15 year-old student was the youngest female competitor in the Championship, while several bowlers and officials celebrated birthdays during the event, often co-inciding with outstanding performances on the lanes.

Athletes and officials and a massive contingent of close to 100 local and international journalists covering the event for local and regional press, television and international magazines and websites established a virtual League of Nations during the Championship. The 13 countries from all three Zones sharing the dais for medal placings bears testimony to the widespread popularity and impact of the sport of tenpin bowling internationally.

"We have been proud to welcome folk from all around the world to our beautiful Malaysia and to have the honour of staging the final combined World Championships" said retiring WTBA President, Dato Dr P.S. Nathan. "I congratulate Sidney Tung, Tan Sri Dato Ahmad Sabki and the entire Organising Committee for a job very well done" he added.

For further information, please contact WTBA Media Director, Lynne Clay at lynneclay@wtba.ws, media@mtbc.org.myor via the World Championships Media Room Phone +60 37492 0902.