KUALA LUMPUR – With a team comprising several world champions and promising junior players, the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) is confident of another successful outing at the Asian Championships, which began in Bangkok today.
Speaking to Scoop, MTBC secretary-general Maradona Chok expressed optimism, noting that the bowlers have been well-prepared, particularly the younger players eager to emerge from their seniors’ shadows.
Malaysia’s best performance at the Asian Championships was in 2019 when they clinched six gold medals, one silver, and three bronze. Last year, they secured four golds, five silvers, and three bronzes.
“Our team is ready to, once again, challenge the best in Asia. We have a mixed team in the men’s division, but we’re confident the younger players can step up and hold their own.
“Our women’s team is also highly confident, led by reigning world champion Natasha Roslan and PWBA (Professional Women’s Bowling Association) player of the year, Sin Li Jane.
“We expect a strong performance. South Korea and Singapore will be our toughest rivals in the women’s division, while the men’s competition will be tight as always, with several countries capable of strong performances,” said Maradona.
Asian number one, Rafiq Ismail, who won his second Thailand Open title last month, got Malaysia off to a great start by leading the singles event with a six-game total of 1,419 pinfalls.
Muhammad Hafiz Zainuddin, also in squad two, followed closely in second place with 1,383 pinfalls. At the time of reporting, squad three was still bowling, with squad four set to begin tomorrow.
In the women’s singles event, Singapore’s Daphne Tan led after squad two with a total of 1,382, followed by South Korea’s Baek Seung Ja (1,340) and Singapore’s Bernice Lim (1,317).
Malaysia’s Gillian Lim, who bowled in squad one, finished fourth with 1,289, with two squads remaining. Nur Syazwani Sahar (1,278) was sixth, and Natasha Roslan (1,266) seventh.
Two other Malaysian bowlers, Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik and Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal, were still competing in squad three at the time of reporting. — September 17, 2024