Syazirol hopes familiar lanes will lead to fruitful outing

PETALING JAYA: National bowler Syazirol Shamsudin has a goal to meet for 2024, and that is to retain the Sonic International Classic he won last year.

Last year, Syazirol beat Singapore’s Jonovan Neo 215-189, 219-186 to win his first-ever Open tournament in the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) calendar.

He is looking confident again as the oiling pattern that he is familiar with at the Sunway Mega Lanes is set be used at the Sonic Bowl@safra Yishun from April 18 to 21 in Singapore.

And Syazirol hopes to take advantage of it.

“It does help when you bowl on the lanes using the oil pattern that I’m familiar with. It’ll help me to make quick adjustment in every frame and be more consistent,” said the 23-year-old.

“If I want to win it, the key is consistency. I hope I can do that in Singapore.”

He is also eyeing to improve his 10th spot in the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) rankings with a good showing in Lions City.

“In order to move up the rankings, I need to win many open titles and help Malaysia win medals in the Asian Championships too.”

Syazirol, who spent three years in the national youth squad before being promoted to the national back-up team in 2021 and elite team in 2023, claimed two individual titles at the Sonic International Classic and National Championships last year.

Bowling during Ramadan is a challenge but Syazirol has gotten used to it.

“I still do gym work in the morning and I’m back at the lanes in the evening. It’s tiring but I’ve been accustomed to this practice for many years, so it’s not a problem really.”