Bowlers stay on right lane

THE men’s and women’s team were on a roll at the Royal City Bowling Alley.

In the first block, the men’s team of Nevern Netaneel (pic), Mohd Hafiz Zainuddin, Mohd Syazirol Shamsud-din and Shahrukh Amin Zulkifli finished first with a score of 2,678 yesterday.

Shahrukh was the toast with 719 pins, and hopes to stay in form today to take the team to the coveted gold medal.

“We have all prepared for the team event for so long, and it went just as we wanted it to. We all did great today, and I am proud of the team,” said the 22-year-old Shahrukh.

“We need to keep the momentum going. Finishing in first place today doesn’t mean we can be overconfident. We still need to give our best tomorrow (today).”

The Philippines quartet of Patrick Nugui, Christian Viray, Ivan Malig and Merwin Matheiu Tan are in second place with 2,611 pins, while Singapore’s Mohd Jaris Goh, Timothy Tham, Darren Ong and Cheah Ray Han are third with 2,497 pins.

The women’s team of Nur Syazwani Sahar, Nerosha Keligit, Nora Lyana Nastasia Kamal and Gillian Lim also topped the standings with 2,506 pins, with Nora being the queen of the day with 728 pins.

Singapore’s Daphne Tan, Bernice Lim, New Hui Fen and Cherie Tan are second, with 2,443 pins, while Indonesia’s Putty Armein, Shinta Yunita, Sharon Limansantoso and Tannya Roumpiper are third with 2,346.

The boys are certainly hopeful that they can emulate the efforts of the seniors – Rafiq Ismail, Ahmad Muaz Fishol, Timmy Tan and Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam – who won the team gold in Manila in 2019.

As for the women, they would hope to atone for Malaysia’s defeat against Singapore three years ago, when the likes of Esther Cheah, Sin Li Jane, Shalin Zulkifli and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman could only get silver.