Sarawakian kegler completes rare international, national sweep

KUCHING (Oct 9): National bowler Gillian Lim Siew Giok made a historic breakthrough in her career when she became the third Malaysian to win both the Malaysian International Open and National Bowling Championship titles in the same year.

Having topped the Malaysian International Open earlier this year, Miri-born Gillian edged Nur Syazwani Sahar of Kuala Lumpur 164-158 in the women’s open final of the 46th National Bowling Championships at Sunway Megalanes on Tuesday.

It was also her second major title of the year. The last Malaysian kegler to achieve the double honours was Zandra Aziela in 2011.

“I feel happy and proud. It is an honour to be the third Malaysian in history to have won the both national titles in the same year.

“Apart from that, I also won two silvers in the women’s trios and team events at the Asian Bowling Championships as well a doubles gold in the women’s doubles, bronze in team event and silver for the women’s all events in the 35th Inter-state Championships,” she told The Borneo Post.

After ending their campaign in the 35th Malaysia Inter-State Championships with two gold, three silver and two bronze medals, Sarawak bowlers especially those in the elite youth squad continued to show their mettle in the 46th edition of the National Championships.

Claudia Kumang Jakson won the silver in Girls Graded while Muhd Isyraq took the bronze in Boys Graded. Nur Hazirah Ramli was second in the Girls Open and Tsen Fan Yew lifted the Boys Open title. Andrea Tan finished third in the Women’s Graded.

“Our young bowlers have shown much improvement and have a very bright future looking forward to the next Malaysia Games Sukma),” said Amateur Tenpin Bowling Association of Sarawak (ABAS) vice president Robert Lu.