Qualifying rounds for the 45th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup at the Melaka International Bowling Center has just ended.

After 3 days of intense competition to determine the top 24 men and 24 women bowlers for the round of 24, the quarter-finalists will now bowl another 8 games tonight to determine the top eight to advance to the semi-finals tomorrow morning.

Topping the Women’s Division is Zara Giles of England who has managed to maintain her lead for 3 consecutive days. Her total pincount stands at 5275 (24 games averaging 219.79). Close on her heels is Malaysian teenager Siti Safiyah Amirah who leaped frog from a second day 9th position to second spot after a superb 1893 series today. She totals 5241 (218.38 avg). Caroline Lagrange of Canada also bowled well today to finish 3rd on 5218 (217.42 avg).

Evgenia Tsarkova (Russia), Tenelle Milligan (USA), Liza del Rosario (Philippines), Helen Johnsson (Sweden) and Baek Seung-ja (Korea) make up the top eight bowlers.

In the Men’s Division, Choi Yong-Kyu of Korea maintained his second day lead with another superb 1986 series. His total pincount of 5652 gives him a 235.50 average. Coming in strongly was Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia with 5366 pincount (223.58 avg) and Martin Larsen of Sweden on third spot with 5282 (220.08 avg).

2005 World Cup title holder Michael Schmidt of Canada also came back strong to finish on fourth position. Zulmazran Zulkifli (Malaysia), Surasak Manuwang (Thailand), Walter Ray Williams Jr (USA) and Wicky Yeung (Hong Kong) make up the top eight men bowlers.

Top American probowler, Walter Ray Williams Jr made an incredible comeback with a high 1891 series today after two lack lustre days.

Four times World Cup Champion, Paeng Nepomuceno had his hopes of a fifth title dashed when he failed to make the top 24 cut by a mere 3 pins.

For full updates and detailed scores, please go to this link
http://www.mtbc.org.my/

For some photos of World Cup participants and supporters, go here
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ABC-To-Bowling/53315535453

Have a great bowling day

Jonathan

courtesy of The STAR Sports
By SHAMSHUL FITRI

PETALING JAYA: The newly-built 52-lane Malacca In­­ter­na­tional Bowling Centre, which will stage the 45th Qubica AMF Bowling World Cup from Nov 15-19, has received mixed reviews from national bowlers Zulmazran Zul­kifli and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman.

The duo, who will represent Malaysia in the tournament, took to the lanes for a two-hour practice session on Tuesday.

Zulmazran, who will turn 26 a day after the tournament ends, said he was generally satisfied with the lane conditions there.

“Although the actual lane conditions were not laid out when we practised, the lane conditions for World Cup competitions are generally easy as the organisers want to see many strikes,” he said.

“Hence, it will be an open field.”

The Indonesian Open and Jakarta Super Classic champion said he aimed to make it into the top eight of the tournament and “then I will take it from there to bring honour for the country”.

Siti, however, had a different spin to the conditions at the bowling centre, saying she felt a bit cramped with the split-house style of the lanes – where 26 lanes sit on each side of the centre. “I am quite used to playing in big bowling centres but somehow I feel cramped there,” said Siti, who will turn 19 a day before the tournament begins.

“I’m also concerned that the fans may crowd the centre and the heat generated may alter the lane conditions.”

However, Siti – the reigning World Ranking Masters champion – admitted that her concerns were minor and she would focus on giving her best on tournament day.

For the record, the best Malaysian efforts in the men’s and women’s events of the World Cup were the runner-up finishes by Michael Chuah (1983 in Mexico) and Shalin Zulkifli (1996 in Belfast).