Shalin and nine others get off on the right foot in Sweden
PETALING JAYA: The national bowlers got their year’s first assignment off to a promising start at the AIK International Tournament in Sweden after 10 of them secured provisional spots for the finals.
Veteran Shalin Zulkifli led the way by registering her best six-game effort of 1,434 pinfalls to place eighth in the ongoing qualifying rounds featuring 455 keglers at the Bowl O-Rama in Stockholm on Friday.
The qualifying rounds have got under way since Dec 26.
Bowlers can make multiple six-game attempts – subject to a squad’s availability – to improve on their standings before the top 100 cut is made.
Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi is the next best Malaysian in 10th spot with a 1,431 total, followed by Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman (1,413, 10th), Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek (1,397, 23rd), Rafiq Ismail (1,387, 31st), Alex Liew (1,377, 36th), Timmy Tan (1,375, 38th), Ahmad Muaz Fishol and Sin Li Jane (1,370, joint 41st) and Adrian Ang (1,351, 54th).
Esther Cheah was the only Malaysian team member finishing outside the cut-off mark. She amassed 1,291 pins for 111th.
Former international Zulmazran Zulkifli is also competing this week. He is placed 106th with 1,296.
National coach Ben Heng commended the bowlers’ performances.
“I’m impressed with them,” said Ben, when contacted from Stockholm.
“They learned to adapt well to the lanes each day and got it right on both the equipment change and the lines.
“To have 10 qualifiers in the provisional standings with just one more day before the qualifying ends – it’s definitely a great start. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the final standings don’t change too drastically.”
The top eight qualifiers will qualify directly for Final Step 2, while those who finish ninth to 38th progress automatically to Final Step 1.
The remaining bowlers from 39th to 100th will roll another six games to determine the last 12 slots to Final Step 1.
All the 56 finalists are assured of 4,500 Swedish Krona (RM2,200).
The winner is set to pocket 60,000 Krona (RM29,500).