Title-holder Radin leads women’s challenge in Macau Open

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will be counting on the women bowlers to deliver at the Macau Open.

Defending champion Radin Nur Najwa Arifah Radin Dzulfakar, Nerosha Keligit, Sharon Koh and Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal will lead the title assault when the twoday final gets under way at the Avenida da Nave Desportiva Bowling Centre today.

Nerosha qualified with flying colours after posting a six-game series of 1,397 pinfalls to top the overseas pool, which secured her a bye into the second round tomorrow.

Sharon and Radin chalked up a 1,335 total for joint fourth while Nora shot 1,322 to come in sixth in the overseas pool.

Radin is an automatic qualifier by virtue of being the defending champion but still bowled in the qualifying round.

Former internationals Alisha Iman Cheong and Hee Kar Yen made it six Malaysians in the 30 qualifiers list.

Alisha finished second in the overseas pool on 1,365 while Kar Yen was third in the mixed pool with 1,300.

The 30-woman final after a oneweek qualifying round, which ended yesterday, comprise a defending champion, seven highest finishers in the local pool, overseas pool (seven) and mixed pool (15).

Malaysia enjoyed a double glory at last year’s Macau Open when Radin and Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek won the women’s and men’s titles but the latter skipped the Open to focus on his preparation for the Indonesia Asian Games.

Shahrukh Amin Zulkifli was the only men’s representative but the Malaysian did not make the cut.

MTBC secretary- general Maradona Chok said the national team quartet - Radin, Nerosha, Sharon and Lyana- were eager to make amends following a disappointing outing at this month’s Singapore Open.

“All four are really fired up to do well. After Singapore, they have worked extremely hard with coach Gerald Samuel to improve their game,” said Maradona.