28th February, Hong Kong: An exciting new Tour, to be staged throughout 2004 in six of Asia's most spectacular cities, has been announced today by Asian Bowling Federation President, Mrs Vivien Fung, JP.

As the internationally recognised governing body for the sport of tenpin bowling in the Asia Pacific region, the Asian Bowling Federation will launch the ABF TOUR next month, with the first Leg scheduled to follow the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur on 27-28 March.

"Since its inception 25 years ago, ABF has been at the leading edge of marketing initiatives and promotion of our sport." said Mrs. Fung. "We've had a very successful association with the Asian Bowling Tour for the past six

years and will now produce our own Tour - we're confident that this exciting new development will lift the sport to even greater heights," she continued.

"The ABF has appointed TND Marketing Limited to work with us in implementing a centralised marketing program and we'll soon be announcing further details of corporate and media connections for our new Tour," she added.

The ABF Tour will comprise six Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg will be staged over two competition days and will offer total prize money of US$25,000. The top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open

Masters Event (Open Grade) will compete in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The Tournament of Champions will be staged over four competition days and will feature prize money totalling US$75,000. The top 16 men and 16 women bowlers (based on ABF Tour ranking points), plus two additional wildcard entries from the West Asia region (thus totalling 18 men in the men's division), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

"As the only tenpin bowling tour in Asia to confer Asian ranking points, the ABF Tour will attract the very best bowlers throughout the Asian region arousing interest and enthusiasm from participants and spectators alike," said Mrs. Fung.

The ABF Tour is organised by Asian Bowling Federation in association with Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress, Thai Tenpin Bowling Congress, Philippine Bowling Congress, Singapore Tenpin Bowling Congress, Persatuan Boling Indonesia and Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com) or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com) or by visiting ABF Tour official website: www.abftour.com to be launched soon.

For Media enquiry, please contact ABF Media Director, Ms Lynne Clay at Tel: +61 419 444 280 or email lynne.clay@tenpin.org.au.