State bowling queen claims second spot in Bangkok
KUCHING: Malaysian bowlers stamped their supremacy by sweeping the top three places in the just-concluded tenpin bowling championship for the Women’s Open division at the 45th MWA-Singha Thailand International Open on Monday.
In the final, Sarawak-born women bowler Nerosha Keligit Thiagarajan finished second behind top-seeded Siti Safiyah Amirah.
Nerosha’s father, a retired RMAF personnnel Thiagarajan Gaanapathy said: “It’s not easy to play among top-seeded players, but she gave everybody the challenge and showed her ‘Anak Sarawak’ grit. I hope she would train harder for all the upcoming bowling events.”
According to the championship’s website, Siti clinched victory over Nerosha with a 257-216 score in the all-Malaysian championship match.
In the match, Siti wasted no time in taking a huge lead when the 29-year-old rolled seven consecutive strikes from frame two as Nerosha played catch-up.
Siti, whose last win was the PWBA Wichita Open in 2017, cruised through to the title to receive 130,000 baht (RM16,831).
Nerosha swept aside second-seeded Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong and Shalin Zulkifli with 235-184-213 to earn her 65,000 baht.
Shalin edged fourth-seeded Sin Li Jane and sixth-seeded Radin Nur Najwa by 231-200- 226 in the all-Malaysian tussle to take home 32,000 baht.
Overall, Siti clinched the top seed spot after finishing the earlier Round 3 finals with 1,374 followed by Chan with 1,314. Nerosha took the third spot with 1,310 while Sin was fourth (1,304). Shalin came in fifth (1,282 and Radin sixth (1,274).
A total of 70 men and 33 women took part in the 45th edition of one of the most popular tournaments in Asia.
They contested three blocks of five games each over three days at Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchayothin. Meanwhile, in the Sukma 2016 bowling competition Nerosha became the first bowler to sweep six gold medals as Sarawak completed their near total domination at Megalanes, near here.
In a related development, the 20th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships will be held here starting today until April 25 to be followed by the 40th Malaysian International Open in Petaling Jaya from April 26 to May 4.
