7th April, Penang:First block leaders, Sharon Adelina Limansantosa of Indonesia and Aaron Kong of Malaysia captured the Girl's and Boy's Masters Gold medals of the 6th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship at Megalanes, Seberang Prai this afternoon.

The Singles Gold medalist, Sharon who topped the field after the second block of the Masters finals with a score of 3329, defeated 3rd-seed Esther Cheah of Malaysia 347-325 over 2 games in the stepladder finals. Esther, who scored 3307 to qualify for the stepladder finals demolished second-seed Toni Woodcock of Australia 225-181 in the first match.

Nerves crept into both the bowlers as they went into the all-important match although Esther was outstanding in her first match. Sharon took the first game 178-142. In the second game, Sharon started by opening two frames while Esther just sprared her first two frames.

Esther then had two open frames in the 5th and 6th while Sharon also could not do much and eventually finished 183-169 but Sharon total was higher than Esther.

Voon Kim Ling of Malaysia scored 3088 to finished 4th and earned 1 valuable point allowing Malaysia to emerge as champion in the Girls division winning 2 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze medals and a 4th for a total of 16 overall points. Australia finished second with 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze and a 4th for 14 pts while Sharon won 2 Gold medals for Indonesia's 3rd place on 10 points.

In the Boy's division, it was another 1-2 finish for Malaysia when top-seed Aaron Kong defeated teammate, Karry Chang 391-352 in two games. Aaron had accumulated 3519 over the two days Masters finals as top-seed going into the stepladder finals. Karry Chang, who was 3rd after scoring 3340, ousted second-seed Clark Tiu of the Philippines 244-201 in the first stepladder match.

In was a close fight in the first game between the two Malaysians with Aaron pipping Karry 174-172 but in the second game, Karry was simply no match for Aaron scoring 217-180.

"I was determined to win the only Gold medal left in the tournament especially after leading most of the way," said the 17 year-old local Penang boy. "I'm to win this Masters finals as it is my first individual Gold medal this year. I did not win any Gold medal in last year's championship although I had a perfect game."

Chris Slaterry of Australia scored 3309 to finished 4th and 1 point. Malaysia was a runaway champion in the Boys division winning clean sweeping 5 Gold, 5 Silver and 1 Bronze medals for a total of 34 overall points (Malaysia Team B medals do not contribute points). Philippines finished second with 4 Silver medals for 8 pts while Australia scored a 4th for 1 point.

Malaysia broke the record of 6 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze medals set in the 3rd Asian Schools championship in Johor in 1999 with 7 Gold, 8 Silver and 5 Silver medals for a total of 50 points. Australia finished second with 16 points while Indonesia took third spot with 10 points. the 7th Asian Schools Championship 2004 will be held in Kong Hong.

Photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC.

6th April, Penang:Singles Gold medalist, Sharon Adelina Limansantosa of Indonesia and Team Gold medalist, Aaron Kong of Malaysia lead the Girl's and Boy's first block Masters finals of the 6th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship at Megalanes, Seberang Prai this morning.

The 18 year-old Indonesian, who competes in the senior category in many international championships, displayed her experience winning 6 of her 8 round-robin first block Masters finals to accumulate a total of 1759 plus bonus points.

She started off on a right footing winning the first game 214 and then followed with 196, 234, and 202. She then pulled out a high game of 234 to take the lead with 171, 237 and 202 in the last four games.

Team Gold medalist and anchorwomen for the Australian team, Jayde Flanagan took second spot with 1605, who also won 6 of her 8 matches. Team Bronze medalist, Esther Cheah of Malaysia, who was lying fourth overtook the Filipino lass, Joylyn Yambo to occupy third place with a good 233 in her 8th game for a total of 1602 and just 3 pins behind the Aussie.

Joylyn scored 1594 for 4th position while Team Gold and All Events Silver medalist, Toni Woodcock took 5th with 1573. Doubles Gold medalist, Voon Kim Ling, who took an early lead dropped to 6th with 1519.

In the boy's division however, Two Gold medalist and local boy, Aaron Kong was awesome right at the start of the finals this morning. Aaron won all 8 matches and in convincing style. He had lines of 254, 225, 223, 215, 248, 179, 224 and 239 for an incredible total of 1887 plus bonus.

The 17 year-old Aaron, who scored a perfect game in last year's Asian Schools championship in Melbourne is 194 pins ahead of his nearest rival and teammate, Eric Ang.

Eric, who won the Silver in the Singles and a Gold medal in the Team event, scored 1693 for second spot while Australia's Chris Slattery took third spot 11 pins further on a score of 1681. Filipino Clark Tiu did well to stay with the pack scoring 1660 followed by his teammate, J.C Tupaz in 5th with 1617. Malaysia's Karry Chang took 6th spot with a score of 1581 pinfalls.

The finalist will continue their second block finals tomorrow (7th April). The top three at the end of the two blocks will make the cut for the stepladder finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC.

5th April, Penang:Doubles and Team Gold medalist Jonathan Lim bagged his third Gold medal of the 6th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship at Megalanes, Seberang Prai. Malaysia also equalled the 2000 Asian Schools record of 6 Gold medals held in Johor when Yazliza Razlan took the Girl's All Events Gold.

Jonathan, who won the Doubles and Team event took his third in the championship thus far after he accumulated 1223 in the Singles, 1292 in the Doubles and 1184 in the Team event for a total of 3699 pinfalls for the well deserved Gold medal.

The 18 year-old also won the Silver medal in the Singles yesterday were superb today when he partnered Singles Gold medalist, Nadri Mohd Noor to capture the Doubles Gold medal in the morning.

"I only won two Gold medals in Melbourne in last year's Asian Schools championship so I'm glad that I have done better than my last outing," said the beaming Jonathan. "This is my last Asian Schools championship as I will be 19 next year and will not be eligible to compete," added Jonathan, who was a team member of the winning World Tenpin Team Cup in February.

Malaysia completed yet another double when Doubles Gold medalist, Yazliza Razlan won the Gold medal in the Girl's All Events. Winner of two Gold medals in her last outing in Australia, the 17 year-old who hails from Perak took the title with 1077 in the Singles, 1205 in the Doubles and 1187 in the Team event for a grand total of 3469.

Australia's Toni Woodcock won the Silver medal with 3444 total while Singles Silver medalist, Sharon Koh of Malaysia settled for the Bronze medal. Sharon's teammate, Elaine Lam finished fourth with 3356 pinfalls.

Malaysia equalled their record set in the 2000 Asian Schools and continued in the Medal Standings with 6 Gold, 6 Silver and 4 Bronze medals followed by Australia with 1 Gold and 2 Silver medal. Indonesia is third with 1 Gold medal while Philippines is fourth with 1 Bronze medal. The top 16 from both divisions in the All Events will play the Masters Finals first block of 8 games tomorrow morning (6th April) and the second block on Monday 7th April. The top three at the end of the two blocks will make the cut for the stepladder finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC.

5th April, Penang: Australia Girls Team and Malaysia Boys Team A shared hnours by capturing the Girl's and Boy's Team event of the 6th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship at Megalanes, Seberang Prai. Malaysia Boys Team B took the Silver while Malaysia Girls Team B the Bronze.

The Malaysian foursome comprising of Jonathan Lim, Eric Ang, Nadri Mohd Noor and Aaron Kong, who trailed Malaysia Team B after the first block of 3 games yesterday scored 4721 to snatch the Gold medal. The lead was fought fiercely throughout the event but eventually Team A maintained the lead from the fifth game and went on to win comfortably by a 62 pins cushion.

Team B comprising of Khairul Hafidz, Mahathir Mohd Nor, Steven Yam and anchored by Karry Chang were happy to have made it a 1-2 finish for Malaysia and settling for the Silver medal. The Philippines Team A won the Bronze medal after scoring 4522 to give the Filipinos their first medal of the competition.

"The win was another superb display by our boys after finishing 1-2-3 in the Boys Singles event yesterday," said coach Chris Batson.

The Malaysian Girls almost made clean sweep when Yazliza Razlan, Zandra Azeila, Yazlin Razlan and Voon Kim Ling were leading until the fourth game. The Australian team of Toni Woodcock, Kate Murry, Bianca Flanagan and Jayde Flanagan fought on galantly to level in the fifth game. The Malaysian girls did well in the last but the Aussies just pipped the Malaysians by 43 pins with a total score of 4302 for a well deserved win.

The other Malaysian girls Team B consisting of Shaon Koh, Elaine Lam, Enaz Diana Ezanee and Esther Cheah, who led after the first block yesterday dropped to third and had to settle for the Bronze medal. The Philippines Team A almost caught up but finished fourth and 19 pins away.

Malaysia continued their lead in the Medal Standings with 4 Gold, 5 Silver and 2 Bronze medals followed by Australia with 1 Gold and 1 Silver medal. Indonesia is third with 1 Gold medal while Philippines is fourth with 1 Bronze medal.

Photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC.

5th April, Penang: Jonathan Lim and Nadri Mohd Noor bagged the Boy's Doubles Gold medal of the 6th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship at Megalanes, Seberang Prai while Yazliza Razlan and Voon Kim Ling completed a double after winning the Girl's division.

The Malaysian pair of Jonathan Lim and Singles Gold medalist, Nadri Mohd Noor scored a combined total of 2434 to win Malaysia's second Gold medal of the championship from the Boy's Doubles event. The duo was fighting it out until the fourth game but took a comfortable lead after the fifth.

The other Malaysia pair of Khairul Hafidz and Karry Chang came back strongly in the last but lost to their teammates by only 13 pins. They settled for the Silver medal but completed a 1-2 finish for the host country.

Philippines' J.C. Tupaz and Clark Tiu did well to finish third for the Bronze medal with 2417 pinfalls. Philippines also finished fourth when Markwin Tee and Diago Cadano scored 2353.

In the Girl's division, Yazliza Razlan and Voon Kim Ling made it a sweet double for Malaysia when they also bagged the Girl's Doubles Gold medal after scoring 2325.

The other Malaysian pair from Team B, Elaine Lam and Enaz Diana Ezanee almost made it another double but the Australia duo of Toni Woodcock and Jayde Flanagan snatched the Silver with a strong finishing score of 2261. Elaine and Enaz had to settle for the Bronze with 2169.

Singles Silver medalist, Sharon Koh partnering Esther Cheah just missed the bronze by 3 pins to finished fourth. Yazlin Razlan and Zandra Azeila finished a disappointing 10th with a score of 2067 pinfalls.

Malaysia leads the Medal Standings with 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals followed by Indonesia with 1 Gold medal. Australia is third with 1 Silver medal while Philippines is fourth with 1 Bronze medal.

Photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC.

4th April, Penang:The Malaysian bowlers continued their domination of the 6th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship at Megalanes, Seberang Prai with Girls Team B leading Team A while Boys Team B also lead the Boys Team A after the first block of 3 games.

The Malaysian Girls Team B comprising of Girl's Silver medalist, Sharon Koh, Elaine Lam, Enaz Diana Ezanee and Esther Cheah staked their claim for the Gold medal when they led the first block of 3 games Team event with a total score of 2105. They had lines of 705, 663 and 737 while Malaysia Team A, made up of the more experienced Yazliza Razlan, Zandra Azeila, Yazlin Razlan and Singles Bronze medalist, Voon Kim Ling totalled 2103, just two pins behind.

"All the members of the Malaysia girls did tremendously well and I am very proud of them," said coach Chris Batson.

Third was Australia comprising of Toni Woodcock, Kate Murry, Bianca Flanagan and Jayde Flanagan with a score of 2053. In fourth was the Chinese Taipei girls with a score of 1963.

The Boys also were superb when they also finished 1-2 again with Team B leading the more experienced Team A. Khairul Hafidz, Mahathir Mohd Nor, Steven Yam and anchored by Karry Chang scored 2367 to lead their teammates of Jonathan Lim, Singles Silver medalist Eric Ang, Singles Gold medalist Nadri Mohd Noor and Singles Bronze medalist Aaron Kong by 106 pins.

"With the inclusion of Karry Chang and with his experience has lifted the team spirit and were able to take a 106 pins lead," added Batson. "And this shows the depth of our youth development programme."

The Team first block of 3 games will be played at 2.30pm in the afternoon. The second block will continue same time tomorrow (5th April) after the Doubles event in the morning. The top 16 from both divisions in the All Events will qualify for the Masters Finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC.

4th April, Penang: Malaysia got off to a great start at the 6th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship when Nadri Mohd Noor won Gold medal in the Boy's Singles with Eric Ang and Aaron Kong completing a 1-2-3 finish while Sharon Koh and Voon Kim Ling took the Silver and Bronze medal in the Girl's division.

SUKMA Gold medalist and newly recruited national kegler, Nadri Mohd Noor was a class above the field when he downed 1346 to win Malaysia's first Gold medal of the competition. Nadri had lines of 225, 245, 238, 233, 223 and eased off with 182.

The 17 year-old, on his first Asian Schools outing took the lead from the word "Go", dedicated the win to his parents who were in Seberang Prai to watch him bowl.

Eric Ang, who finished first during the Asian Schools roll-off and was transfered to Team A, put Malaysia firmly on course to retaining the Overall champions title when he won the Silver with a score of 1320 while SUKMA Gold medalist, Aaron Kong took the Bronze to give the Malaysia a 1-2-3 finish.

Jonathan Lim, the Singles Gold medalist in the last Asian Schools championship in Melbourne, Australia almost made a complete sweep in the Boy's Singles event when he finished fifth just 4 pins behind 4th-placed J.C. Tupaz of the Philippines.

"Eric Ang was improving so much after finishing first in the Asian Schools roll-off and during the two weeks of preparation leading to the championship that we felt that he would do well so we moved him to Team A," said the national development coach and coach for this championship, Chris Batson. "In addition, we moved Karry Chang to Team B so that with his experience, Team B would stand a better chance of winning a medal in the Team event," added Batson.

Malaysia nearly scored a "Double" when Sharon Koh took the lead after the first 3 games of the Girl's division. Sharon scored 196, 210, and 213 to total 619 just 11 pins ahead of Indonesia's Sharon Adelina Limansantosa. But the Indonesian put up a superb perfomance to snatch the lead from the 4th game and eventually claimed the Gold medal with a total of 1211. Sharon could only maintained and scored 1185 for her 6 games to win the Silver medal. SUKMA Singles Gold medalist, Voon Kim Ling did well to take the Bronze with 1136.

The 17 year-old Sharon, sister of William Koh who competed in last year's Asian Schools championship, was surprised to do so well. "This is my first international assignment and with so many experienced teammates, I did not expect to score better than them," said the shy Sharon. "I am now more confident after the first event and I hope to continue my form to help Malaysia win more medals in the Team and Doubles events," added Sharon.

The Team second block of 3 games will be played at 2.30pm in the afternoon. The second block will continue same time tomorrow (5th April) after the Doubles event in the morning. The top 16 from both divisions in the All Events will qualify for the Masters Finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC.

3rd April, Penang: The 6th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship was officially declared by Y.Bhg. Dato' Haji Hassan bin Hashim, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Education Malaysia at Megalanes, Seberang Prai today.

The official opening was also attended by Mrs. Vivien Fung, President of Asian Bowling Federation, En Dewa bin Abdullah, the Organising Chairman, Education officials, dignitaries, guests, Technical delegates, Presidents and Secretary Generals of several participating countries, invited guests, members of the media and the players.

Immediately after the opening, Y.Bhg. Dato' Haji Hassan rolled the first bowling ball of the championship to declare the 6th edition opened.

Dato' Haji Hassan was also introduced to the participating team before adjourning to high tea towards the end of the ceremony. Earlier, the participating teams had their official practise where nine countries namely Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Malaysia took part.

The championship proper will commence with the Boys and Girls Singles over 6 games tomorrow (4th April) morning at 9.00am which will be followed by the Team 1st Block of 3 games in the afternoon at 2.00pm. The Doubles will take place the following day (5th April) at 9.00am again and followed by the Team 2nd Block of 3 games in the afternoon at 2.00pm.

The top 16 Boys and top 16 Girls in the All Events will make the cut for the Masters Finals of which the first block of 8 games will be played on Saturday (6th April) and the second block on Sunday (7th April).

Photos by Terence Yaw, Asst. Hon. Secretary/MTBC.