Sarawak retains tenpin bowling crown at Sukma XXI

KUCHING (Aug 20): Sarawak has once again asserted its dominance in tenpin bowling, successfully defending its overall champion title at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) XXI.

The event concluded today at Megalanes Sarawak in Batu Kawa, where the Sarawak team emerged victorious, capturing five gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

This marks the sixth overall title for Sarawak in Sukma’s history and the fifth consecutive win since their streak began in Sukma Perlis 2014.

National youth bowler Gordon Tsen Fan Yew clinched the final gold medal for Sarawak in the men’s Masters final, defeating Mohamad Zuhair Zailani of Pulau Pinang.

His victory sealed Sarawak’s top position in the competition.

Team manager Robert Lu Nam Min expressed his delight with the team’s performance, which exceeded their initial goal of securing three gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.

“We surpassed our gold medal target and we managed to turn the silvers into gold. We won the first gold in Sukma XXI through Nur Hazirah Ramli and the last gold through Gordon Tsen.

“That was a perfect ending for us and l must congratulate all bowlers, coaches and officials for the hard work as well as good team work for our success,” he told reporters when met.

Lu, who is also vice presidents for the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress and the Amateur Tenpin Bowling Association of Sarawak (Abas), credited the team’s success to a well-structured development program, state-of-the-art bowling facilities, a dedicated coaching staff, and unwavering support from the Sarawak government and parents.

Looking ahead, Lu affirmed that Sarawak will continue to be a formidable force in the next Sukma, with a focus on nurturing young talent to ensure they remain “Sukma ready” at all times.

“We will continue to develop our youth to the standard that we want so that we are competition ready or Sukma ready any time,” he said.

Sarawak’s other golds were won in the women’s singles (Nur Hazirah Ramli), women’s doubles (Nur Hazirah Ramli and Lavinia Kho Jia Jie), mixed doubles (Nur Hazirah Ramli and Gordon Tsen Fan Yew) and women’s trios (Nur Hazirah Ramli, Lavinia Kho Jia Jie and Asya Dania Azree).

The silver came from Muhammad Ihsan Fikri Suffian and Claudia Kumang Jakson in the mixed doubles while the bronzes came from the men’s team of five through Gordon Tsen, Ethan Damien Goh, Cornelius Aldhem Sajat, Muhammad Isyrad Iqbal Ramadhan, Eldred Yek and Muhammad Ihsan and women’s team of five through Nur Hazirah, Lavinia Kho, Claudia Kumang, Asya Dania and Dayang Yuri Azreen Abang Azman.

Datin Patinggi Puan Sri Jamilah Anu, accompanied by Abas president Sunny Si Poh Heng, who is also Sarawak Contingent ACDM for tenpin bowling, gave away the medals for the men’s Masters winners.