Cheryl showing her potential

Monday, September 1, 2008

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur's Cheryl Cheong again showed her potential to become a top bowler in the country by nailing another top junior title on Saturday.

The Form Five student of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) emerged as the girls' Open champion in the SportExcel-NSC-Milo National Grand Prix Finals at the Kuantan Mega Lanes.

She also stole the show in Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Kuala Terengganu last June, pulling the rug from under the fancied bowlers to win the Masters gold medal.

Cheryl Cheong and Mohd Amsyar showing their trophies after winning their maiden girls' and boys' Open titles in the SportsExcel-NSC-Milo National Grand Prix Finals at the Kuantan Mega Lanes on Saturday.
On Saturday, the 17-year-old Cheryl recovered from a poor first game to beat Pahang's Farah Izzazaya 332-322 (136-196, 170-152) in the final.

She certainly saved the best for the Finals of the 10-leg circuit after crashing out in the elimination rounds in Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban and Johor.

The former national youth bowler, who had been bowling for nine years, was all smiles.

“I was very nervous in the final against Farah and managed only to score 136 pins in the first game. But I did not give up,” said Cheryl, who came into the tournament with a target of a top four finish.

“With the guidance from my coach and support from my friends, I did well to connect several strikes and also picked up my spares.”

With her consistent performances thus far, Cheryl is likely to get a call-up to re-join the national youth squad.

In the boys’ Open, Perak’s Mohd Amsyar Zakaria landed his first junior title – beating Mohd Hanif Mohd Bakri of Pahang 372-317 in the final.