Dignified departure Of Shalin Zulkifli - Saturday, 09 Jan 2021

A sobbing Shalin as she reflects on her long years with the national bowling team at a press conference.

PETALING JAYA: Shalin Zulkifli insists she still has what it takes to realise her unfulfilled life-long dream of becoming a Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour (PWBA) champion.

If all goes well, the 42-year-old is set to head to the US in April to compete the full season there.

For the new season, the PWBA Tour has lined up 12 tournaments until August which includes two majors namely the USBC Queens and US Women’s Open.

The three-time world champion Shalin believes by competing week in, week out there would help her adapt to the environment and subsequently bowl consistent enough to challenge for honours.

“The past few years, we went there on ad-hoc basis and would play in only three to four tournaments, ” said Shalin after a press conference to announce her decision to leave the national team yesterday.

“I think it makes a lot of difference for me to give it a shot at bowling the entire season there.

“Playing on PWBA Tour is nothing like any Open tournaments or official Games. Apart from playing against all the world’s best, you’ve got to adapt to the many aspects of the competition there.

“But I still have faith in myself. I’ve no doubts that I can win my first PWBA Tour title.

“I can still compete at the highest level, as long as I take good care of my body condition and stay healthy, as well as have the right support. In 2019, I did quite well (to finish 14th out of 192 competitors) at the USBC Queens, so that speaks volumes.”

Shalin said she will bring her daughter Aleya, 9, there for the Tour.

“Four months is a long time and I don’t want to be away from my daughter. I will be taking her with me and homeschooling her for the time being, ” said Shalin.

“That’s one of the reasons why I decided to retire from the national team. If I’m still there, it’s not possible for me to just compete in US for the whole season.”

Shalin’s previous full season stint was in 2008-2009, then known as the Professional Bowling Association (PBA) Women’s Series.

She came close to triumph at the 2008 US Women’s Open by coming in third.

Meanwhile, Shalin could not hold her tears as she paid tribute to those who had been part of her 28-year trophy laden career.

And it was head coach Holloway Cheah, fondly known as ‘Ah Sir’ and her teammates, as expected, earned a special mention.

“Thank you ‘Ah Sir’ for all the knowledge you have taught me since I was nine right until I’m 42. It’s you who made me the athlete I am today, ” said Shalin.

“Ah Sir and I have gone a long way. If not for him, I would not have returned to the national team (after a fallout with Chris Batson). He guided us to countless titles, it’s not easy for him to handle such pressure at such age (78).

“And to all my teammates, whom I regard as family, we have gone through together triumphs, defeats, tears and laughters, thanks for being with me throughout this wonderful journey.

“I hope all of you will continue Malaysia’s legacy as one of the bowling powerhouse in the world. The foundation has been built by the seniors before me, ” she added - The Star.

Malaysian tenpin bowling queen and former world champion Shalin Zulkifli has officially resigned from the national team.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian tenpin bowling queen and former world champion Shalin Zulkifli has officially bowed out from the national team, Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary-general Maradona Chok confirmed today. 

He said Shalin, 42, who had an astonishing 28-year career with a total of 74 medals at the senior stage, handed her resignation letter through national head coach Holloway Cheah this morning.

"She has officially resigned from the national squad, she has announced her retirement, I think she will hold a media conference very soon.

"Well she has hinted in the past that it's about time she retired, she also said she is looking at the future but never she told the actual date (of retirement), so it was still a bit of a surprise she announced it today," he told Bernama, today.

Maradona said retirement has been playing on her mind for a long time and MTBC accepts the decision with an open heart.

He said MTBC as the parent body would also continue to support Shalin post-retirement.

"She knows her future better, she has planned the things she needs to do, so I think the time is right for her to move on and then, of course, MTBC will fully support whatever she decides," he added.

Shalin was named the National Sportswoman of the Year five times (1994, 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002).

She won three World Championships, in 2003 (Malaysia), 2007 (Mexico) and 2017 in Las Vegas, United States. -- BERNAMA

SEA Games DEC 2019 : Malaysia clinches gold in men's team event in bowling.

DEC-2019

How to Bowl Strikes, How to Curve, Hook, and Spin a Bowling Ball, and How to Shoot a 300!

Some people think bowling is easy. But that simply is not true, bowling, in reality, is one of the most difficult sports in the world. That is unless you know what you are doing. When is the last time you went bowling? Were you embarrassed in front of your friends about how bad you are? If you answered yes, or want to get better at bowling, keep reading.

First off, you need to know some bowling lingo. Wet means the lanes are oily, this means the ball won't hook or curve quite as much. The opposite of wet is dry, so the ball hooks more. The pocket is the gap between the one and three pin for right handed people, and between one and two for lefties. The pocket is where you want your ball to hit in order to get a strike. Carry is the pins actions that knock down other pins. You want lots of carry!

How to hook, curve and spin the bowling ball: It is fairly simple. All you need to do is have sideways rotation on the ball. If you are right handed, you want the rotation going counter clockwise. The best way to do this is to find a ball that properly fits your hand. It is nearly impossible to spin a ball when your fingers go all the way inside the ball. You only want your fingertips in the ball for maximum spin. To spin the ball, all you have to do is pretend you are shaking your hand with the lane as you release the ball.

This means as you are letting go, start turning your hand so that your palm is facing the left, if you are right handed. (Make your hand face the right if you're a lefty of course) Please note, it is way harder to make a house ball hook. They are built to go straight, because it is cheaper to use a plastic covering. It will be way easier to bowl strikes with your own ball, that is meant to be curved. They do not even need to be expensive!

How to bowl a strike: this is also simple. Hit the pocket, with enough speed, and at the right angle, and you will get a strike almost every time! Here's how to do that. What you want to do, is hit the pocket at the highest speed you can, without losing accuracy. This ensures the pins have more energy falling, thus knocking over more pins. If you can hit the pocket so that the ball is heading toward the left side of the five pin for righties, and the right side of the five pin for lefties, that will help you even more. Having the right angle with maximum speed ensures you have enough carry.

To bowl a 300 is simple, bowl strikes every time! Note that the oil on the lane will get worn out and move as the day goes on, so what worked in the beginning may not work in the end.

Please note, you should use the arrows on the lane to line up your shot. It is easier to line up a shot that is 15 feet away then it is to line up a shot that is sixty!

Bowling Tips

Let's face it, whether you are a beginner or whether you have bowled before, the first time most of us ever remember seeing someone bowl strikes we wanted to learn how to do that. While picking up a 7-10 split takes tremendous skill, people would rather bowl strikes simply because of the amazing sense of accomplishment that you get from that familiar sound of all the pins being knocked over. So let us look at all the steps that you need to have in place before you can bowl strikes.

Step 1: The first thing to do is to make sure that you use your right foot. If you are right handed be sure to start with your right foot. If you are a lefty be sure to start with your left foot. If you start off on the wrong foot you run the risk of being off balance and you will be more concerned about staying upright than with your attempt to bowl strikes.

Step 2: The moment you start moving forward it is important you focus on your shoulder corresponding with the foul line. If you move or twist one way or another, you are going to put some unwanted spin on the ball and your ball will veer to the left or the right.

Step 3: Make sure you swing the ball back in a straight line, even Fred Flintstone got this part right, do not swing the ball around your body or you are going to hit the gutter each time.

Step 4: Be sure to stop right in front of the foul line before you let the ball go, there is nothing more frustrating than when you bowl a strike but still end up with a big 'F' on the scoreboard because you managed to slip a toe over the foul line.

Step 5: Most commercial lanes will have dots or arrows on the lane to help you guide your ball. Even though the professionals on television make it look really easy (and cool!) to start with a side throw, try to aim for the middle because it gives you the best chance you have to bowl strikes if you're using standard house bowling equipment.

Step 6: Remember the first time you ever picked up a bowling ball and got ready to throw? The only thing most people focus on is their feet, their stance and whether or not they are going to cross the foul line. Once you start getting more comfortable with the game though, you are going to want to focus on the pins themselves, after all that is ultimately where you want to aim.

While bowling might not have complicated rules or require too much physical exertion, it is still going to take some time before you get good enough to where you bowl strikes more than you let the ball wander off into the gutter. The most important thing to remember is that practice is only going to make you better.

Bowling women's trio strike Malaysia's first gold at Asian Games - 2018

JAKARTA: Malaysia’s wait for a first gold medal at the Asian Games is over in Indonesia!

Bowlers Esther Cheah, Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman blazed the lanes in the women’s trios event to emerge as the winners when they amassed 4,326 pinfalls to beat Taiwan’s Pan Yu-fen, Chou Chia-chen and Tsai Hsin-yi by 71 pins at the Jakabaring Bowling Center in Palembang on Wednesday.

Singapore’s Joey Yeo, Daphne Tan and Bernice Lim claimed bronze on 4,250.

The other Malaysian team comprising Shalin Zulkifli, Sin Li Jane and Natasha Roslan, who led after the second game, fought hard but settled for fourth with 4,144 pinfalls.

It’s Esther third Asiad gold after winning two titles at the 2006 Doha Games while it’s a first for Syaidatul and Siti Safiyah.

Malaysia have won the event only once in Asian Games through Shalin, Shirley Chow and Lydia Kwah at the 1994 Hiroshima Games.

 Head coach Holloway Cheah was ecstatic with the win.

“I want to thank my Lord for carrying us through,” said a delighted Holloway.

“These three girls fought their hearts out. At the start of the last game, only 60 pins separated them from their opponents in second and third place but they kept their composure to romp home for this sensational win.

“They were simply fantastic.”

Team manager Maradona Chok said: “It’s a superb win for Malaysia as they stood by each other and stepped up for one another when one struggled. It’s absolutely great performance from the three of them.”

Shalin Zulkifli always gives her best at bowling

As the light shines down the bowling alley, Shalin Zulkifli swings her bowling arm out and back. The audience roared their approval as she strikes; her ball hitting all 10 bowling pins.

It’s the end of just another workday for the Malaysian professional 10-pin bowler.

At the recent SEA Games 2017, the veteran reaffirmed her status as the most decorated bowler in the history of the series.

The 39-year-old stunned everyone by winning three golds in trios (with Sin Li Jane and Esther Cheah), team (Li Jane, Esther, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, Natasha Roslan and Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi) and Masters, to extend her career record to the 20-gold mark in eight Games appearances. She also won bronze in the singles and silver with Alex Liew in the mixed doubles.

Shalin got the ball rolling on her debut at the 1993 Singapore Games, followed by two in Jakarta 1997; five in Brunei 1999; four in Kuala Lumpur 2001; three in Korat 2007; and one in Singapore 2015.

She’s now just two golds short of equalling swimmer Nurul Huda Abdullah’s all-time record of 22 golds for the country.

Shalin’s dazzling show at the KL Games proved she still has a few good years left in her.

“My goals now are to win a PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) title and another gold medal in the Asian Games, while holding the responsibilities as a mother and a wife,” said Shalin.

Shalin started bowling at the age of nine and represented the country when she was 13.“I want to be Malaysia’s best athlete and be remembered in history,” she added in an email interview with Star2.

Now the mother of six-year-old Aleya Azid, Shalin’s passion towards bowling remains and she is not quite done yet as she has unaccomplished goals to realise.

However, her success has not been without sacrifices.

“Sometimes, I miss being around my family during special occasions, such as Hari Raya,” lamented Shalin. “But all of these sacrifices are necessary to be a successful athlete.”

Luckily for Shalin, she is blessed with a strong support network.

Shalin’s husband, Azidi Ameran – a former national bowler – has been giving her moral support throughout her path to be an elite bowler.

“I have seen my friends quitting sports because of the sacrifices that need to be made. I’m very fortunate as I have an incredibly supportive family who takes care of the house when I am training or when I am competing overseas,” explained Shalin.

However, her schedule is about to get a lot more hectic.

Shalin is preparing for the upcoming World Championships in Kuwait in December.

But she is more than ready, as this is what she’s trained for her whole life.

“In every competition, my aim is always to give my best. I always believe that working hard is the key to success,” said Shalin.

Sports has taught Shalin meaningful lessons. From competing with athletes from different countries to understanding their cultural practices, it has made her a better and more understanding individual.

Shalin is also blessed with the support of the government.

“You know how lucky you are when you have the support of the government. Many countries, even sporting nations like the United States and Australia, do not get as much support and funding as Malaysian athletes do,” explained Shalin.

The national bowler also shares her thoughts on Merdeka.

“To me, Merdeka is freedom. It has given me the leverage to achieve great things in life. Without the country’s independence, all of my achievements would not be possible. If we were still colonised, I don’t think Malaysians would have the freedom to choose who they want to be,” said Shalin.

Shalin usually spends her National Day away from the country in the hopes of bringing back a special gift to the nation, in the form of her victory in sports.

“I usually celebrate Merdeka by participating in competitions overseas. If I am back in Malaysia during Merdeka, I will be involved in the national parade,” added Shalin.

“As I age, I tend to appreciate all the sacrifices made by our ancestors who fought for our country’s independence,” enthused Shalin.

Shalin, who has played and won various national and international tournaments for Malaysia, is now one of the country’s most treasured assets.

To become the top bowler in the region, she has encountered numerous trials and tribulations throughout her career.

“Life doesn’t always turn out the way you want it. But if you work hard enough, sometimes, you will end up where you want to be.

“If everything was easy, then everyone would achieve their goals.

“From the start, I’ve wanted my hard work to be recognised,” concluded Shalin.

ABF Tour Thailand podium winners - 2016

Thailand Open 2016

Yes It's ME! - Finally Achieved Legality -2015

2015 - SEA GAMES - Malaysia achieve a grand double in bowling

SINGAPORE: Malaysia made a clean sweep of the men’s and women’s team-of-five bowling gold medals at the Orchid Bowl at the Orchid Country Club.

They did it Brunei in 1999 and in Manila in 2005, and on Friday, they did it again.

The men easily cruised to victory with 6,238 pinfalls, 172 ahead of second-placed Indonesia (6,066), and Thailand came in third with 5,852.

Bowling two lanes away from second-placed Singapore, the women held their nerves amidst screams of “Majulah, Singapura” and chants of “Let’s go, Singapore!”

Despite the cheers for their opponents, Shalin Zulkifli, Esther Cheah, Sin Li Jane, Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi and Natasha Roslan knuckled down to amass 6,067 pinfalls and win by 55 pins.

Singapore took silver with a total of 6,012, while the Philippines were third with 5,776 pinfalls.

“We wanted this win really badly because (Youth and Sports Minister) Khairy Jamaluddin said that you need to win the gold to be considered for the Podium Programme and we wanted everyone to get in,” said Shalin, who is making her seventh appearance at the Games.

“This win is a defining moment for our team. They’ve (Singapore) always beaten us. So it was nice to beat them for a change.”

Malaysia are the only country to win both the men’s and women’s team titles at the Games since bowling was introduced in 1977.

“The experience was similar to the one we had in Palembang (in 2011), where we had a good lead and we could enjoy the game. This was the last chance for some of us to win the gold, and we did it,” said men’s team captain Alex.

National chief coach Holloway Cheah was beaming with pride. “I’m very happy. We did the grand double. We’ve been preparing for months. Mission accomplished!

“A lot of people were questioning the selection, of Shalin and Alex, but I knew what they could do. They have a strong fighting spirit. I’m very proud of them.”

Five men and five women bowlers have made the first round of the Masters event.

Malaysia’s best haul at the SEA Games was seven golds at the 1999 Brunei Games and 2001 Kuala Lumpur Games.

Interview with Malaysian bowler Rafiq Ismail - Debutant Rafiq strikes gold for Malaysia in SEA Games-2015

Torgerson V Shalin Zulkifli. 2001 World Masters