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Bowler Siti is Malaysia’s top performer in Las Vegas

By RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: Debutant Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman stood tall on the opening day of the women’s World Championships although Malaysia fell out of the running for a medal in the singles event at the Cashman Centre in Las Vegas.

The 18-year-old Siti hardly showed any sign of nerves when she emerged as the top performer in the Malaysian camp. She finished sixth in a 228-member field after firing lines of 176-198-214-279-194-266 for a six-game total of 1,327 on Tuesday.

She missed the top four cut by only 18 pins. Only the top four qualified for tomorrow’s semi-finals.

Professional bowler Stephanie Nation of the United States lived up to her reputation to lead the fray with a six-game total of 1,361 followed by Mexican Sandra Gongora (1,357), Anja Ginge Jensen of Denmark (1,347) and Finland’s Krista Pollanen (1,345).

Cover girls: Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman (left) and Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi posing at the World Championships in Las Vegas.

Seasoned campaigner Shalin Zulkifli settled for 19th spot with a 1,297 total while Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi was placed 21st on 1,282.

The other three Malaysians, however, found the going tough with Esther Cheah finishing 64th (1,212), Sharon Koh 71st (1,207) and Wendy Chai 116th (1,163).

Malaysian team official Cheah Ban Cheng said that Siti certainly made heads turn with her performance. “It was rookie Siti who provided the excitement in the day’s final squad. She showed good recovery after posting a sub-standard score in the first two games,” said Ban Cheng in a press statement.

“In the final game, Siti was on track for a podium finish when she reeled off seven strikes in a row. But a split in the next game saw her hopes dashed.”

Malaysia will now be out to make an impression in the doubles through their three combinations – Siti and Zandra, Shalin and Esther and Sharon and Wendy.

Out of the three, Shalin and Esther are Malaysia’s best bets for a medal.

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