Malaysian girls in right lane to reclaim Asian youth title

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are in contention to reclaim the girls’ team gold they last won in 2006 at the Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships in Manila.

The quartet of Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal, Nur Amirah Auni Azman, Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik and Nurameera Husna Aznel chalked up 2,505 pinfalls to top the first block of 12 games at the Starmalls Coronado Lanes in Mandaluyong City, Manila, yesterday.

Debutant Nurameera impressed the most by contributing a three-

game series of 717 compared to Faten (651), Nur Amirah (602) and Nora (545).

They hold a slender 36-pin lead over second-placed Singapore (2,469 pinfalls) while defending champions South Korea sit third with 2,390 pinfalls.

Malaysia were silver medallists in the event in Macau two years ago.

Team manager Maradona Chok was pleased to see the girls charge into contention.

“The girls today stood by each other, made good shots and stayed composed throughout the contest,” said Maradona.

“With 12 games to go, there’s still plenty to play for. They just have to keep it simple and stay as relaxed as today.”

The Malaysian boys, however, still have plenty to do in the second block today.

Singles champion Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, together with Brandon Lik, Muhd Arif Iskandar and Mohd Hafiz Zainuddin, could only manage 2,304 pinfalls to be placed ninth in the 15-nation competition.

They face a daunting task to at least emulate the bronze medal feat at the last championship as they are 254 pins off the third spot occupied by Bahrain (2,558).

South Korea lead at the halfway stage with 2,667 pinfalls, with Indonesia (2,580) in second.