Sarawak's Golden Day

13th June 2010, Melaka - It was Sarawak's day when both Gold Medals at stake was won by them. The duo of Dayang Khairunniza and Jacqueline Jenelee and Bong Kihow and Chong Jun Foo proved too strong for the other contenders.

Sarawak now leads the Tenpin Bowling medal tally with 2 Golds - 1 Silver - 1 Bronze, followed by Wilayah Persekutuan with 1 Gold - 3 Silvers.

The Mixed Doubles event will feature tomorrow and the heat will be on again to see who will be crowned champion. Don't miss the action! Competition begins at 10am.

Simply awesome Najwa of Wilayah Perseketuan

(Report and photos by Tony Lim)

13th SUKMA, Melaka, MIBC Bowling Centre - Awesome...that is best word to describe the performance of Radin Nur Najwa Arifah bt Radin Zulfakaer in the Girls Singles event. Najwa won the first gold medal offered in bowling and also became the first girl bowler to bowl a perfect game in the championship.

17 year old, Najwa of SMK Puteri Titiwangsa had big plans in mind going into the singles event and she did that in stunning fashion by notching up games of 248, 256 and 248 to take the lead and then followed up with a high of game of 300 to set a new one game record for the championship.

However the perfect game nearly cause her to lose concentration in the fifth game when she lost her line but a quick discussion with her coach Dzulkarnian helped her to regain her composure and line back again to bounce back and score a 215 game to put her in good position for the gold.

But then in the sixth and final game, Najwa was struggling to find her line again when she opened two frames and was under pressure. She did not know how far she was leading. Again she consulted her coach and the magic touch was back in her hands to enable her to strike home for a 232 and in the process recorded a total of 1499 pinfalls to average 249 and set a new record for the singles event.

“I wanted to win a gold medal in the singles event and I put in extra effort in my training. We had mental training sessions on how to stay focus so that I am fully prepared to face whatever that may arise during the event. Thankfully all that extra effort paid off when I was told that I had won the gold medal after the final game,” said Najwa.

“This win means a lot to me especially for Wilayah Perseketuan and the officials who were behind the team and all who supported us throughout, especially my parents. But I like to express my gratitude to all the coaches who had helped me like the state coaches, Steven Teng and Dzulkarnian and National Youth coaches Foong Tak Meng and Azidi Ameran.”

The silver medal was won by Hee Kar Yen also Wilayah Perseketuan who scored 213, 247, 247, 236, 232 and 255 for a total of 1430 pinfalls to average 238 for the six games singles event while Fatin Syazliana of Penang who scored a total of 1394 pinfalls pip Jacqueline Sijore of Sarawak by 2 pins to take the bronze medal.

The early pace was set by Fatin Azmira of Perak when she open the singles event with a 257 game but the lead changed hand when Najwa score a 248 followed by a 256 in the second game to take the lead. Although Kar Yen posted 2 high games of 247 and 247, Najwa just pulled away further and was 92 pins ahead going into the last game.

“I tried my best in every game and every time I bowled a good game, Najwa replied with a higher game so I told myself to fight it out all the way and see what happens and although I gave my best, it was not good enough but I am happy that my team mate Najwa won the gold and I hope that I will do better in the next event. I am sure that Najwa feels that way too,” said Kar Yen who had a very good showing in the Asian Youth Championships but never won a medal so this medal could be the silver lining for her.

The bowling event of the 13th SUKMA in Melaka was held in the new 52 lanes centre at Melaka International Bowling Centre and the bowlers, officials and spectators filled the centre to the brim to watch all the action and excitement on the first day of competition.

Johor Leg Notice 2 - Hotel Rates and Reservations

1. HOTEL SELASA

Single/Double Room
RM110.00 nett per room per night with breakfast.

2. NEW YORK HOTEL

Economy (without breakfast)
Single - RM115.00 nett per room per night
Twin/Double - RM120.00 nett per room per night
Triple - RM125.00 nett per room per night

Economy (with breakfast)
Single - RM125.00 nett per room per night

Twin/Double - RM140.00 per room per night
Triple - RM180.00 per room per night

For reservations, please call En. Zahari at 0167177961.

Johor Leg Notice 1 - Competition Schedule Ver.1 (Subject to changes)

Timmy Tan wins Pahang leg to secure first back to back victory

(Report by Tony Lim)

Timmy Tan of Kuala Lumpur upset Perak’s Muhd Fazrin bin Khairul Faizi to win the boys open division in the Pahang Leg of the National Junior Tenpin Bowling Circuit and became the only back to back winner in this year’s circuit.

Timmy who finished in fourth place after the 2 block of 14 games had to win his group match scoring 203 and 207 in the 2 games quarter finals which set him up to face the top seed Qalif Adnor bin Adam of Kuala Lumpur in which he easily disposed Qalif with 172-170 and 267 – 201 win.

Then Timmy had to face season campaigner Muhd Fazrin of Perak in the finals which should have been an easy match for Fazrin when he took the first game 188 -158. But when a lapse of concentration happens, Fazrin allowed Timmy to level the match with a 178 -162 win for Timmy. In the deciding game, it was clear that Fazrin never recovered his focus and gave the match away losing 137 – 185. But it was a well deserved win for Timmy as he had work very hard on his game to build his confidence and now eyes for a place in the GP Finals of the National Junior Tenpin Bowling Circuit.

Nor Syazanah Rosli of Perak also created an upset when she beat compatriot Nur Syamimi Supardi in 2 games, 161 -146, 177-142 in the best of 3 games finals in the girls open division. Earlier Nor Syazanah had dispatch of local favourtie Farah Izzazaya Mohd. Fariq of Pahang 192-167, 177-142 in the 1 + 1, repercharge format for the semi finals.

In the boys graded division, it was a titanic tussle all the way when Mohd Fayyadh bin Alias of Negeri Sembilan engaged Adam Rahimi of Kelantan in a tooth and nail battle to wrest the title and heaved a sigh of relieve after the victory. Mohd Fayyadh lost the first game 216 -257 and looks as if the boat is veering away. But the plucky lad hung in with all tenacity to claim a narrow win in the second game with 206 -202 to level the match and stay on even keel.

In the deciding game, it was still touch and go affair but Fayyadh sensing that Adam Rahimi was losing steam he push forward with all the energy that was left and stay on course to secure the victory with a 194 -181 win and raised his arms in utter relieve.

Siti Nurzulaika bt Ismail of Kuala Lumpur had to fight all the way to secure victory in the girls graded division. Siti who finished third after two blocks of 14 games had to grind it out in the group match and won with 349 pinfalls for the 2 games quarter final match.

Siti then had to faced local lass Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik of Pahang in the semi finals played on 1+1 format which she won convincingly scoring 189-161, 230 -184 leaving Faten Najihah to just shrugged her shoulders in the “one of those days situation.” Next Siti had to face Farah Zakiah Khairul Anuar, another Pahang lass who had the crowd behind her.

But the plucky Siti knew what was in store and was prepared for an uphill battle. In the first game both bowlers tied on 170 but Siti won the game on a 1 throw tie breaker. Farah was clearly upset and took command of the second game when she won the game with a 245 -191 score and level the match. In the decider both bowlers started aggressively trying to gain an advantage but the strategy did not work for both bowlers and it was Siti who had made fewer mistakes won by a 2 pins margin.

The finals was delayed due to a sudden power interruption which occurred on Saturday night and the organizers had decided that the boys and girls division second block be played on Sunday morning rather than continue on Saturday night when the power was restored which meant that the bowlers will have to endure a grueling game which was expected to finish at around 4 am. Thankfully it was the right call for the bowlers to play on Sunday morning albeit a little delay.