Former junior ace Christopher aims to be third time lucky at alley

PETALING JAYA: Former national youth bowler Christopher Tiong is hoping to be third time lucky at the Penang Pesta International Bowling Championships.

The 20-year-old Sarawakian came close to winning the country’s oldest bowling tournament twice having finished second in 2014 and third in 2012 – in the men’s Open.

And he looks good for another title bid after topping the first round of the mixed Open Masters finals at the Megamall Bowling Centre in Perai yesterday.

Christopher, who finished a creditable fifth at last week’s Milo All-Stars, amassed 1,838 pinfalls over eight games – 87 pins ahead of Indonesia’s Yeri Ramadona (1,751).

Nur Syazwani Sahar rolled a 1,744 total to emerge the best-placed woman in the 46-player contest.

The top 18 bowlers, including three women, made the cut for today’s second round.

Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam (1,710, fifth), Kang Bo Long (1,704, seventh), last year’s women’s champion Nur Ameera Husna Aznel (1,673, 13th) and Alex Liew (1,653, 16th) are among those who have progressed.

Six more – Chong Jun Foo, Johnathan Chan, Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, Indonesian pair Billy Muhammad Islam, Alisha Nabila Larasati and Callum Borck of Australia – will also enter the fray today.

“I feel really great, especially after overcoming the tricky oiling pattern here,” said Christopher, who was part of the national youth set-up from 2012-2016.