KL, Sarawak strike gold in Interstate Championships doubles

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak took centre stage in the men's and women's doubles as the 37th Interstate Bowling Championships produced a string of tight finishes at Sunway Mega Lanes on Tuesday.

KL's Ahmad Azriq Izamudin-Hafiz Zainuddin snatched the men's title by just 13 pins, combining for 2,510 to deny Perlis pair Aiman Faris Mahdi-Firhan Iqbal Shrizal, who finished on 2,497.

Hafiz led the way with 1,306, while Ahmad Azriq added 1,204.

Sarawak's Tsen Fan Yew-Chong Jun Foo took bronze on 2,443, continuing their strong form from the opening day.

Jun Foo had won the men's singles on Monday, while Fan Yew finished third, giving Sarawak another solid return from the pair over the first two days.

There was more breathing room in the women's doubles, where Sarawak's Lavinia Kho-Gillian Lim powered to gold with 2,611.

Lavinia rolled 1,327 and Gillian 1,284 as they finished 79 pins clear of Selangor's Qurratu'ain Izdihar Pozi-Adania Redzwan on 2,532.

Kuala Lumpur's Durriyah Ibrahim-Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal settled for bronze with 2,448.

The youth boys' doubles produced the closest battle of the day.

Putrajaya's Iqbal Zuhairi Akmal Hadi-Anas Irfan Shahar scraped home by just four pins, posting 2,499 to edge Selangor's Adeel Hafiy Jalaludin-Aiman Syahin Sulaiman on 2,495.

For Aiman, the silver came a day after he claimed the youth boys' singles title.

Terengganu's Syed Irham Fakhri Syid Ahmad-Ahmad Hazim Syahmi Nik Mat finished third with 2,435.

Johor's Nur Ainul Hayat Ad Nor-Nurul Aisyah Salleh took the youth girls' title on 2,436, with Penang's Aisha Medina Azmudin-Mayra Khayreena Khairi second on 2,415.

Mayra had also made the singles podium on Monday, taking bronze in the youth girls' event.

Sarawak's Izara Hannah Erwan-Maihanna Mazuan completed the doubles podium on 2,298.

In the senior events, Kelantan's Zaidi Awang-Nasir Mat Zain won the men's title on 2,411.

Perak's Noor Azra Shukor-Nor Azlita Hashim edged Pahang by just three pins for the women's crown, 2,157 against 2,154, with Nor Azlita improving on the silver she won in Monday's singles

The three-day championships conclude on Wednesday with the team events.