Syazwani cruises into girls’ Masters q-finals
PETALING JAYA: National bowler Nur Syazwani Sahar stayed on course for a double gold at the World Youth Championships after cruising into the quarter-finals of the girls’ Masters event in the United States.
The 19-year-old, who bagged the All-Events title on Wednesday, beat Estefania Cobo of Puerto Rico 2-0 (203-193, 185-178) in the second round at the Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit on Thursday.
Syazwani has been exempted from the first round by virtue of being one of the top three seeds. She will be tasked with defending Malaysia’s girls’ Masters title held by Natasha Roslan.
Teammate Shahrukh Amin Zulkifli also made the last eight of the boys’ competition.
Debutant Shahrukh opened his campaign with a 2-0 (200-191, 226155) win over Benjamin Martinez of Mexico before continuing his march by ousting Finland’s Niko Oksanen 2-1 (217-221, 257-195, 237-197).
Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam’s hopes of at least equalling his bronze-medal feat in Las Vegas two years ago went up in smoke.
He went down 0-2 (211-265, 198203) to top seed and boys’ All-Events champion Ghanim Aboujassoum of Qatar.
Malaysia had earlier added another bronze through the quartet of Syazwani, Nur Amirah Auni Azman, Nur Ameerahusna Aznel and Gillian Lim who settled for joint third in the girls’ team event.
They went down 0-2 (162-189, 173-224) to the home side in the semi-final, thus equalling their achievement in 2016.
The Americans – Caitlyn Johnson, Mabel Cummings, Taylor Bailey and Breanna Clemmer – exacted sweet revenge on arch-rival South Korea by coming from behind to win a rematch of their 2016 final 2-1 (180205, 214-181, 230-175).
“The semi-final was played on fresh oil which our girls struggled with throughout the entire tournament,” said team manager Maradona Chok.
“The US did well to keep the pressure on early. Retaining the bronze is still a good effort by the team nonetheless.
“Let’s hope we can end with a flourish. Syazwani is bowling great and now she is in the last eight, as well as Shahrukh debuting well in the tournament.
“Both seem very comfortable with their game and have been making good shots.”
Let’s hope we can end with a flourish. Syazwani is bowling great and now she is in the last eight, as well as Shahrukh debuting well in the tournament. Maradona Chok