31st March, Riyadh: Debutant, Khaled Al-Hamdan captured a first-ever tour title for Saudi Arabia after defeating challenger, Mohammed Janahi of Bahrain 212-192 in the ABF Tour Saudi 2011 at Universal Bowling Center on Thursday.

Khaled Al-Hamdan started the final match against Mohammed Janahi of Bahrain with a split in the first frame but recovered with a double strike to draw level with the Bahraini after the fourth frame.

Another strike in the fifth frame from the 17-year-old Saudi forced Mohammed into an error when he encountered a big-five split which he failed to spare.

However, Khaled did not capitalise as he too failed to spare in his sixth frame putting both the contenders level again. When Mohammed failed to spare in frame 7, Khaled this time took full advantage to knock down four consecutive strikes to pull away for a 30 pin lead.

Despite fighting back with three strikes from frame 9 by the Bahraini, Khaled had sealed the match and the title with 212-192. Khaled also became the first Saudi to win the tour title for the kingdom.

The champion had sailed through to the second round after edging Kuwait's Meshari Al-Fadhli, 165-135 and another Kuwaiti, Basel Al-Anzi 184-135 in the second round to make the semi-finals.

Mohammed Janahi scrapped through the second round with a narrow victory over Indonesia's Ryan Lalisang, 175-172 and Filipino, Ric Tugonon in the semi to face the Saudi.

Mr Fahad Hamad Al-Issa, secretary general of Saudi Bowling Federation presented the trophy to the champion, Khaled Al-Hamdan.

The next leg of this year's tour will be staged in Bangkok, Thailand on April 18 followed by the Macau, China on July 3. Two more legs will be held in Hong Kong and Indonesia.

For further information and details, please contact ABF Tour Committee at Tel: +852 2893 6039, Fax: +852 2893 6290; Email: info@abftour.com.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Riyadh.