KUCHING: Sukma double gold medalist Nur Hazirah Ramli stamped her mark in the international scene of the just concluded 19th Milo Storm U22 International Junior All-Stars Bowling Championship at Sunway Megalanes, Selangor.
After an intense eight days of qualifying to make the Masters Final of various categories, the form three student of SMK Green Road made her breakthrough when she won the Girls U15 title.
She then went on to finish a commendable sixth in the Girls Graded.The icing on the cake would be her scintillating comeback performance in the Girls Open.
Being the main event of this annual five-star tournament, this category never fails to attract the best U21 bowlers from around Asia.
A little shell-shocked by the qualify of the international field of bowlers around her, she had two hiccup games in the first six games where she only managed to score 154 and 175.
Armed with the Sarawak spirit of never say die, she went on a rampage to close out the last four games with lines of 239, 254, 247, 224 for a massive 964 series which averages at 241 pins.
“I have my coach Angelo Koay to thank for that by setting my mind straight after those two low games,” said the delighted 15-year old after learning she managed to sneak into the cut for the top four semifinal rounds by just five pins.
In the semi-finals she was up against Malaysian backup bowler Nur Ameera Husna Dato Aznel and national youth bowler Nurul Alyssa Junaidi.
Hazirah despatched her more highly statured opponents with a huge 279-game to Alyssa’s 210 and Husna’s 188 effort.
Earning her spot in the Girls Open Stepladder Final was already an achievement of its own.
Awaiting Hazirah in the title winning match was top seed Charmaine Chang of Singapore who had just recently won her Nationals.
However, Charmaine was not to be denied of her second title in three weeks when she rolled in a game of 255 to Hazirah’s 211.
“It would have been great if I could bring back the second title of this championship with me to Sarawak but all credit to Charmaine who bowled extremely well to deny me of the win. A loss it may be but a stepping stone it shall be for me,” she declared.
Hazirah continued to thank her coach who always believed in her, keeping and guiding her on the right path since she was nine.
She also extended her gratitude to her parents, family, friends, Amateur Tenpin Bowling Association of Sarawak, Sarawak Sports Corporation, Sarawak State Sports Council and all those working hard day and night behind the scenes to ensure she and her teammates had all the opportunity possible to excel in this sport.
Hazirah is probably one of the bowlers who bowled the most total number of games throughout the championship with 84 games in 11 days.
She will only be taking a three-day break before getting back to her usual training routine with the same frequency and intensity when asked if she was going to have herself a well deserved holiday.
Hazirah also congratulated her teammates who qualified for the Open Finals and gave it everything they had on the day.
They were Dayang Yumi Azreen who finished in eighth spot, Gillian Lim 10th, Nur Aina Kamalia 17th and Tsen Fan Yew 35th in the Boys Open.