Sarawak strike gold
Bowlers experience sudden burst of power to emerge big winners
SUBANG JAYA: Sarawak saved their best for last to rule the Interstate bowling championships for the first time since 2011.
After managing one gold on Tuesday through Abang Afiq Yazid Abang Azman in the boys’ singles, Sarawak came out with guns blazing on the final day yesterday to secure four out of the eight gold medals at stake at the Sunway Mega Lanes.
They pocketed the girls team, men's All-Events, men and women's team to give Sarawak a final tally of five golds, four silvers and one bronze to pip Kuala Lumpur (5-1-2) for the overall title. Negri Sembilan were third with 2-5-4.
The Sarawak men quartet of Abang Afiq, Christopher Tiong, Ervin Lim and Mohd Uzair Irsyad Nor Azrul got the ball rolling after posting a 4,802 total pinfalls to run away with their third straight title.
They finished 230 pins ahead of Negri Sembilan's Nor Afizal Azizan, Muhd Al-Qayyum Syafiq, Shamsul Riza and Mohd Fadhli Ramli while Selangor's Mustaffa Yassin, Azidi Ameran, Wan Nadzmi Fikri Mohd Faisal and Muhd Arif Iskandar Azahar were third on 4,544.
Abang Afiq bagged his third gold by topping the men's All-Events with an 18-game total of 3,731 pinfalls.
Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abang Jamalidon, Nerosha Keligit, Nur Aina Kamalia Abdul Ayub and Nur Hazirah Ramli delivered more cheers for Sarawak when they put up a late charge in the final game to take the gold with a 4,377 total.
Negri Sembilan's Hurul Ainul, Nadia Nawwarah, R. Nassmitha and Syazana Aqilah Lokman settled for silver with 39 pins adrift. Selangor's Qistina Zainal, Ili Syazana Jamal Azmi, Victoria Chin and Nur Nais Zaharifah took the bronze with 4,296 pinfalls.
The fourth gold came through Dayang Yumi Azreen Abang Azman, Nur Haziqah Ramli, Asya Dania Azree and Lavinia Kho in the girls' team.
Penang bagged a solitary gold through Hariz Adlan, Al-Faiz Zainal, Mohd Shafiy Zaim and Megat Zaqrul in the boys' team event.
Kuala Lumpur also collected two golds through Hee Kar Yen (women's All-Events) and Siti Nurzulaika Ismail (girls' All-Events) to match Sarawak's gold tally but were pipped to the overall title by three silvers.
Amateur Bowling Association of Sarawak vice-president Robert Lu hailed his charges fighting spirit on the final day.
“We didn’t expect to win the overall as most of them are rookies. But we lived up to expectations in the team event," said Robert.
“But winning three out of the four is just outstanding. We are so proud of our players.”