12th April, Petaling Jaya: Adib Razali of PTBPP, Penang and Pireisha A/P Ravichandran of Negeri Sembilan captured their maiden titles after emerging as champion of the Youth Boys and Youth Girls Graded Masters finals of the 43rd Malaysian International Open Bowling Championships at Sunway Megalanes.

Wan Syakir Rafiqi got off the block brilliantly with 234 to lead Adib Razali by 14 pins but Wan Syakir's lead lasted only one game after Muhammad Affan of Negeri Sembilan took over the running after the second game of 247. Muhammad Affan led for the next three games with 228, 170 and 180.

Adib Razali, who trailed the Negeri Sembilan youth, shot a big game of 254 to moved into the lead. Irfan Carl Iskandar of Perlis took over second spot as Muhammad Affan slipped down to third.

Irfan grabbed the lead after the seventh game, just five pins ahead but Adib bounced back with a strong game of 226 in the final game to clinch victory with 1617. Irfan settled for second with 1584, 33 pins adrift while Muhammad Imran Bin Azmi of WP Sukma Squad stormed home to snatch third position with 1565.

Meanwhile, Piretisha A/P Ravichandran of Negeri Sembilan led from start to finish to captured her first-ever title. Piretisha started off with a superb game of 223 and followed it up with 204 in the second to lead Aswan Thurayya by 38 pins.

Although the lead dropped her pace slightly with 179 and 187 in her next two games, she held the lead and stretching her lead to 47 pins. Nursyarafana Auni moved into second as Thurayya dropped out of contention.

Piretisha got her momentum back with 190 and 203 in the fifth and sixth games and managed to extend her lead yet again to 63 pins. Nursyarafana continued to trail the leader and unable to mount a serious challenge.

The lead ended with 184 and 180 which proved enough to seal victory with 1550 total. Nursyarafana settled for second position with 1509, 41 pins away. Nur Sara Shahira of PTBPP, Penang clinched third position with 1505, just two pins ahead of Balqis Nurdini of WP Sukma Squad.

Qualifying will continue through to April 18. The Youth Open Masters Finals and Senior Masters Finals will be staged on April 13.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.