Malaysian quartet qualify for team playoffs in World Youth Championship

PETALING JAYA: Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam

(pic) found his form in time to help Malaysia make one last push for remaining medals on offer at the World Youth Championships in the United States.

The 19-year-old reeled in lines of 245-226245, averaging an impressive 238.67 for threegame series of 716 to power national quartet to third spot after the first block of the boys' team event at the Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit on Tuesday.

Shahrukh Amin Zulkifli posted a 651 total, while Rafiq Ismail and Brandon Ting chipped in 649 and 553 respectively for the team to finish the day 122 pins behind leaders Japan (2,691).

Second-placed the Philippines (2,587) and Qatar (2,525) completed the top four in the 36-nation standings. Only the top four finishers at the completion of 24 games will progress into the title playoffs.

Tun Hakim was pleased to have bounced back after earlier disappointments in the singles and doubles events, where he and Rafiq failed to repeat their runner-up finish in Las Vegas two years ago.

"The lanes here are giving us hard time. But finally I was able to overcome it by altering the surface of my bowling balls," said Tun Hakim.

"I also tweaked a bit on my release and threw from a different angle. It's all falling into place now."

Tun Hakim's superb display also put himself back in contention to qualify for the boys' Masters event.

He's currently placed 23rd in the All-Events standings and must keep himself in the top 24 to make the cut while Shahrukh is 20th.

"I must keep scoring high games to help the team secure a medal, as well as high getting myself qualify for the Masters. I won bronze two years ago, and I hope to be in contention again."

Malaysian girls' have also found their feet to be in line to qualify for the team title playoffs.

The quartet of Nur Syazwani Sahar, Nur Ameerahusna Aznel, Nur Amirah Auni Azman and Gillian Lim combined efforts of 2,471 put them in third place behind South Korea (2,553) and the Americans (2,482), who are the defending champions and runners-up respectively.

Syazwani and Co will be aiming to equal or better their bronze medal achievement in the last edition.