06/09/06
Malaysia
Shalin and Zulmazran are both highest ranked players in Asia By Rajes Paul
Republished courtesy of The Star (Thursday June 8, 2006)
Petaling Jaya: The Zulkiflis – Zulmazran and Shalin – have both become the top ranked Asian men and women bowlers with their impressive runs in the last two months.
Based on the latest rankings list released for the first half of the year on June 1, Zulmazran is ranked as the number one men bowler in the Asian region for the first time in his bowling career.
The 23-year-old Zulmazran had been on a roll since winning the Thai leg of the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) Tour in April.
He then bagged the Kuwaiti leg of the Tour and last month, he was the top Malaysian men performer when he reached the quarter-finals of the World Ranking Masters in Kuwait.
Last Sunday, in the Bahrain Open, Zulmazran qualified for the step-ladder finals by virtue of finishing second in the Masters Finals. But his gallant run ended when he was beaten 201-201 – he lost in a tiebreaker – to American Tim Mack in the first match.
Mack, who was out for more than a year with a shoulder injury, showed he was back in business when he defeated Australian Jason Belmonte 256-227, 225-212 in the final match to win the title and cash prize US$20,000.
The other Malaysian men in the top eight are Alex Liew (left) at the fourth spot and Daniel Lim (right) at seventh position.
Only the top eight Asian men and top eight women, based on their performances in all international tournaments, throughout this year get to compete in the next year's World Ranking Masters.
Like Zulmazran, Shalin Zulkifli is back as the Asia's top ranked woman bowler thanks to a string of good performances in the last two months.
Shalin took first spot after winning the Thailand Open, the Thailand leg of the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) Tour, Kuwait Open and also reaching the semi-finals of the World Ranking Masters.
Her good performances recently also helped her regain a place in the national squad. She had quit the team in March after serving a three-month ban slapped on her by the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC).
Other Malaysian woman have also been impressive. Besides Shalin, there are five others within the top eight. They are Choy Poh Lai (2nd), Wendy Chai (3rd), Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi (4th), Esther Cheah (6th) and Lai Kin Ngoh (8th).
The national bowlers' next assignment is the Philippines Open this month.
Based on the latest rankings list released for the first half of the year on June 1, Zulmazran is ranked as the number one men bowler in the Asian region for the first time in his bowling career.
The 23-year-old Zulmazran had been on a roll since winning the Thai leg of the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) Tour in April. He then bagged the Kuwaiti leg of the Tour and last month, he was the top Malaysian men performer when he reached the quarter-finals of the World Ranking Masters in Kuwait.
Last Sunday, in the Bahrain Open, Zulmazran qualified for the step-ladder finals by virtue of finishing second in the Masters Finals. But his gallant run ended when he was beaten 201-201 – he lost in a tiebreaker – to American Tim Mack in the first match.
Mack, who was out for more than a year with a shoulder injury, showed he was back in business when he defeated Australian Jason Belmonte 256-227, 225-212 in the final match to win the title and cash prize US$20,000.
The other Malaysian men in the top eight are Alex Liew (left) at the fourth spot and Daniel Lim (right) at seventh position. Only the top eight Asian men and top eight women, based on their performances in all international tournaments, throughout this year get to compete in the next year's World Ranking Masters.
Like Zulmazran, Shalin Zulkifli is back as the Asia's top ranked woman bowler thanks to a string of good performances in the last two months.
Shalin took first spot after winning the Thailand Open, the Thailand leg of the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) Tour, Kuwait Open and also reaching the semi-finals of the World Ranking Masters. Her good performances recently also helped her regain a place in the national squad. She had quit the team in March after serving a three-month ban slapped on her by the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC).
Other Malaysian woman have also been impressive. Besides Shalin, there are five others within the top eight. They are Choy Poh Lai (2nd), Wendy Chai (3rd), Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi (4th), Esther Cheah (6th) and Lai Kin Ngoh (8th).
The national bowlers' next assignment is the Philippines Open this month.
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