S’wak bowlers on target at National Championships

KUCHING: Sarawak got off to a good start in the 30th National Inter-state Bowling Championship at Sunway Megalanes, Sunway Pyramid, Selangor by capturing one gold, one silver and two bronze medals on the first day of competition on Monday.

Nur Aina Kamalia Abdul Ayub sprang a surprise in the girls singles by bagging Sarawak’s first gold after posting a score of 1,300 pinfalls over six games.

Nerosha Keligit Thiagarajan, who is nursing a finger injury from Sukma XVIII, made it a one-two finish for Sarawak with 1,222 pinfalls while Nur Dayana Zuhdi from Negeri Sembilan was third with 1,169 pinfalls.

In the boys singles, Musayyar Khalid failed to defend his title and won the bronze with 1,267 pinfalls to finish after Mohd Azizi Naim of Selangor (1,329) and Sushanor Sihanor of Sabah (1,286).

Meanwhile, Ervin Lim Wai Mun finished third in the men’s singles by felling 1,334 pinfalls. The gold went to Muhammad Nur Aiman of Johor (1,388) and the silver was won by Ahmad Muaz of Selangor (1,367).

Dayang Aida Natasha also produced a good show to bag the bronze in the women’s singles after registering 1,209 pinfalls to pip national kegler Sin Li Jane by two pins.

The gold was won by veteran national bowler Shalin Zulkifli of Selangor who posted 1,439 pinfalls ahead of her teammate Natasha Roslan who had 1,340 pinfalls.

There are 13 teams vying for top honours this year.

With several national bowlers in the Selangor team and the withdrawal of Penang and two-time defending champions Kuala Lumpur, Selangor’s chances of regaining the overall title has been boosted.

However, Sarawak team manager Robert Lu said his team will be going all out to give Selangor a good run for their money.

“We have a good start to the competition and I hope our bowlers can keep that momentum going in the doubles and the rest of the competition,” he said.

Sarawak are represented by a full team of four men, four women, four boys and four girls in the championships.

The men’s team comprise gold medallists from Sukma Bong Kihow (Sukma Pahang 2012), Daniel Tan (Sukma Perlis 2014), Chong Jun Foo (Asian Youth gold medallist, Sukma Malacca 2010 and Sukma Pahang 2012) and Ervin Lim (Sukma Sarawak 2016).

In the women’s team are ex-national bowler Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abang Jamaliddon, Dayang Aida Natasha Abang Jamaliddon (Sukma Malacca 2010), Nurafidza Mohd Amran (Sukma Malacca 2010) and Nerosha Keligit Thiagarajan (Sukma Perlis 2014 and Sukma Sarawak 2016).

The boys and girls teams are made up mostly from Sukma 2016 team except for Dayang Yumi Azreen Abang Azman and Abner Loo Chun Lik, who are making their debut at this tournament.

Others are Christopher Tiong, Abang Afiq Yazid Abang Azman, Musayyar Khalid, Jocelyna Judith Jonathan, Nur Aina Kamalia Abdul Ayub and Gillian Lim Siew Giok.

In 2016, Wilayah Persekutuan emerged the overall champions while Selangor were second and Sarawak third.