30th April, Cairo: Defending champion Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia retained the 6th Sinai International Open Ladies' champion title while Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar triumphed in the Men's division.

The defending champion easily defeated teammate Wendy Chai in the final stepladder match 212-179 to retained the title she won last year and pocketed US$3,000. Shalin, the newly-crown Malaysian Open champion, led the Ladies' Round-robin finals with a score of 1820 winning 7 out of the 8 games finals earlier.

Wendy, who won the Super Classic title two weeks ago, settled for second and US$2,000 despite out-classing Hong Kong's Vanessa Fung in the second match 253-169 while third-seed Sarah Yap of Malaysia dropped to 4th after loosing to Vanessa 174-199 in the first match.

Wendy had finished second with 1749 in the round-robin finals ahead of teammate Sarah who totalled 1638 followed by Vanessa Fung with 1628.

Top-seed Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar prevented local favourite Tarek Helmi from stealing the limelight when he clinched the Men's title with 182-176. Shaheen had to spare the last frame to narrowly claimed the top prize of US$7,000.

Egypt's Tarek Helmi was unlucky not to take the title despite defeating Malaysia's Azidi Ameran 182-170 in the second stepladder match. Helmi, who won US$5,000 also took a sweat revenge over American Dino Castillo when the local hopeful defeated Castillo 225-201 before settling as 1st runner-up.

Shaheen had earlier topped the 2nd block round-robin finals with a total of 3728 ahead of Azidi Ameran on 3681 in second. Dino Castillo and Tarek Helmi finished 3rd and 4th respectively with 3667 and 3602.

Photos courtesy of Egyptian Bowling Federation.

29th April, Cairo: Defending champion Dino Castillo of the USA led 1st block round-robin Masters finals of the 6th Sinai International Open this afternoon ahead of Malaysia's Azidi Ameran in second and Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong in third.

World Championship Trios Gold medalist, who took the title here last year, was in fine form to win 7 out of the 8-game round-robin Masters finals with score lines of 203, 217, 212, 250, 264, 212, 215 and 226 for a total of 1869 plus 70 bonus.

Castillo was 30 pins ahead of 2003 Malaysian Open champion, Azidi Ameran of Malaysia in second with 1839 followed by Stage 2 leader and Asian Ranked No. 1, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong, who totalled 1821 for third.

Qatar's Ahmed Shaheen and Abdulla El-Qattan took up 4th and 5th placings with scores of 1811 and 1760 respectively. The men will continue their 2nd block of another 8 games tomorrow (30th April) at the end of which the top 3 will proceed to the stepladder finals.

Meanwhile, Stage 1 leader and three time Asian Bowler of the Year, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia put up a fine performance to continue to top the Ladies division with a 1361 second block to give her a total of 2695 over 12 games. Shalin was a comfortable 202 pins ahead of teammate and 2004 Super Classic champion, Wendy Chai in second on 2493.

Malaysian continued to dominate with Sarah Yap taking 3rd spot with 2369 with Asian Schools 4 Gold medalist, Zandra Aziela in 4th with 2345.

Hong Kong's Vanessa Fung retained 5th spot with 2162. The top 8 ladies will battle it out in the 1st block round-robin finals which will be played tomorrow (30th April).

Photos courtesy of Egyptian Bowling Federation.

28th April, Cairo: Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong maintained his form to top the 36 bowlers into the next round after the 2nd block Masters finals in the 6th Sinai International Open.

The first block leader and Asian Ranked No. 1 was a class of his own when he streaked into a comfortable 257 pins lead after the men's 2nd block of 6 games were played this evening at International Bowling Centre.

Wu totalled a whopping 2979 and an average of 248.25 for the lead. Former World Cup champion, Ahmed Shaheen took up second place with 2722 followed by 2004 Emir Cup champion, Abdulla El-Qattan in third spot with 2598.

Mubarak El-Murikhi of Qatar and Malaysia's Azidi Ameran only had 1 pin separating them on 2583 and 2582 for 4th and 5th placings. The top 16 finishers moved on to the round-robin finals to be played tomorrow (29th April).

Photos courtesy of Egyptian Bowling Federation.

28th April, Cairo: Defending Champion Shalin Zulkfili topped the 1st block Masters finals of the 6th Sinai Interantional Open with Wendy Chai in second and Zandra Aziela in third.

Shalin, the three-time Asian Bowler of the Year knocked down lines of 238, 243, 189, 213, 238 and 213 for an impressive total of 1334 to take a comfortable 80 pins lead over top qualifier Wendy Chai. Wendy, the 2004 Super Classic champion could not keep up with the fast pace Shalin set and settled for second spot on 1254.

The Malaysian women dominated the preceedings when Asian Schools four Gold medalist, Zandra Aziela and Sarah Yap took 3rd and 4th placings with 1189 and 1171 respectively. Hong Kong's Vanessa Fung finished 5th 1153.

The ladies will continue their 2nd block finals tomorrow morning (29th April) when the top 6 after the 12 games total will move on to the round-robin finals.

Photos courtesy of Egyptian Bowling Federation.

28th April, Cairo: Asian Ranked No. 1, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong led the top 36 finalists in the Men's 1st block Masters finals of the 6th Sinai Interantional Open with Kuwait's Nouri El-Emry in second and Abdulla El-Qattan in third.

The 21 year-old World Youth Championship Gold medalist, posted two high games en-route to taking the lead after the 1st block of 6 games. Wu had lines of 233, 264, 213, 237, 226 and 279 for a total of 1452 and a comfortable lead over second-placed Nouri El-Emry of Kuwait in second on a score of 1348.

2004 Emir Cup champion, Abdulla El-Qattan of Qatar scored the third highest total with 1313 while his countrymen, Mubarak El-Murikhi finished 4th spot with 1311. Former World Cup champion, Ahmed Shaheen of Qatar and Tarek Helmi of Egypt took 5th and 6th places with 1298 and 1295.

Yaukob El-Shaty (KUW-1288), Azidi Ameran (MAS-1264), Hameed Taqi (BHR-1256 tie) and Mahmed Ganahi (BHR) completed the top 10 from 7th to 10th respectively.

Meanwhile, the women has yet to take to the lanes for the 1st block Masters finals. 2004 Super Classic champion, Wendy Chai of Malaysia continued to top the women's qualifying table with a score of 1748 ahead of teammate and 2004 Malaysian Open champion, Shalin Zulkifli in secon on a score of 1705. Hong Kong's Vanessa Fung also maintained third spot with 1695.

The top 12 qualifiers plus 2 local women representative will start their roll-off later today.

The top 36 men will complete their 2nd block of 6 games immediately after the women 1st block. The top 16 will advance to Stage 2 Round-robin finals played over two block of 8 games tomorrow (29th April) and Friday (30th April).

Photos courtesy of Egyptian Bowling Federation.

26th April, Cairo: ABF Tour Malaysia champion, Wendy Chai of Malaysia and Youssef El-Gaber of Qatar topped the Ladies' and Men's qualifying leaderboard of the 6th Sinai International Open at the International Bowling Centre.

Wendy, who also won the 2004 Cathay Bowl Super Classic early this month, carried forward her form into the qualifying rounds to score 1748 pinfalls for the lead in the Ladies qualifying table.

The 26 year-old had lines of 179, 222, 258, 191, 212, 193, 204 and 289 for an impressive 218.5 average. 2004 Malaysian Open champion, Shalin Zulkifli took second spot with 1705 while 2003 ABT Indonesia Leg champion, Vanessa Fung of Hong Kong finished third with 1695. World Championship Team Gold medalist, Sarah Yap took 4th spot with a score of 1578 while local Egyptian, Hala Shaarawy did well to finish 5th with 1528.

Zandra Aziela (MAS-1520), Hala Khafaga (EGY-1393), Suzan El-Ezaby (EGY-1361), Nadia El-Halawani (EGY-1354) and Rand Kedis (JOR-1300) completed the top 10 from 6th to 10th places respectively.

In the men's division, Qatar bowlers dominated the top 3 positions with Youssef El-Gaber leading the field with 1800 followed by Mubarak Al-Muraikhi in second on a score of 1791. Former World Cup champion, Ahmed Shaheen finished third with 1788.

Maher Abdel Housin from Iraq and Fahd Al-Amadi of Qatar took up 4th and 5th positions with 1774 and 1771 respectively.

Meanwhile, defending champion Dino Castillo of USA have just arrived Cairo and if he is successful in defending the title, he will be the first to achieve this since the Sinai Open started.

Qualifying continues and will end tomorrow (27th April) where the top 16 ladies and top 36 men will qualify for the Stage 1 of the championship which will be played on Wednesday 28th April.

Photos courtesy of MTBC.