Natasha creates history with first IBF World Cup victory

 

National bowler Natasha Roslan in action during training with the national tenpin bowling squad last month. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: 

National women’s bowler Natasha Roslan ended Malaysia’s 53-year wait to become the first Malaysian woman bowler to win the International Bowling Federation World Cup tonight.

The 28-year-old beat Germany’s Birgit Noreiks 217-166, 226-169 in the women’s individual final in Kowloon, Hong Kong. She defeated Singaporean Daphne Tan 244-196, 213-216, 187-181 in the semi-finals.

This is the third world title for Natasha, having won the 2023 world bowling championship in Salmiya, Kuwait, and the women’s team event together with Li Jane, Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman and Shalin Zulkifli in 2017 in Las Vegas, the US.

In the men’s individual final, 2018 world champion Rafiq Ismail lost to China’s Du Jian Chao after he failed to maintain his momentum after winning the first game. He lost the final with a result of 223-222, 166-216, 193-235.

Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malik was the last Malaysian to win the men’s title in 2012 in Poland. - FMT