Natasha regains top spot in world cup meet
KUALA LUMPUR: Family presence has certainly boosted Natasha Roslan’s spirit as she regained the top spot in the women’s third round qualifying round in the QubicaAMF 55th Bowling World Cup at Bowling Centre, Jakabaring Sports City in Palembang, Indonesia today.
The presence of her father Mohamed Roslan Ismail, mother Anita and younger sister Adilla gave a major boost to the national elite kegler, who reeled off lines of 215-166-210-226-222 and 186 for a grand total of 3,766 pinfalls over 18 games to wrest the top spot from overnight leader American Kelly Kulick, who dropped to second place with a total of 3,360 pinfalls.
Russia’s Maria Koshel rose two rungs to third spot with 3,710 pinfalls in total.
Speaking on her performance, Natasha, who was the leader in the opening round on Monday, was delighted with her performance, adding that her parents made her fired up to do well in today’s game.
“My main supporters (her parents) are here today, and I bowled well.To be leading again is a bonus and dedicated to my parents, but like I said earlier, I just want to take each day as it comes and bowl my best.
“Early lead does not mean much in this nature of tournament. What matters is how I perform when it matters most, but I’m glad that I’m staying consistent because falling back would mean additional pressure,” according to Natasha in a statement issued by Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) today.
Meanwhile, national men’s elite kegler Adrian Ang is still struggling to find the right lanes and has dropped three rungs to 23rd place with 3,581 pinfalls over 18 games.
“I felt I bowled better, but either the strikes are not coming in or when they did, I could not string them,” said a disappointed Ang.
“This has indeed put me in a precarious position and I have to go for broke tomorrow and with the challenge to make the top 24 going to be keen, I have to improve further and be consistent,” added the Penangite, who is making his third appearance at the World Cup meet. He finished 17th in his debut appearance in 2006 in Venezuela and 23rd in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2011.
The 2015 World Cup runners-up, Francois Louw of South Africa, who led from the start of the competition on Monday, continued to tighten his grip at the top with 4,210 pinfalls, taking a massive 300 pins over second-placed Oliver Moring from Germany, who was in an overnight fourth spot with 3,900 pinfalls.
Finland’s Niko Oksanen dropped one rung to third with 3,807 pinfalls, while Indonesian veteran Ryan Leonard Lalisang climbed from an overnight seventh spot to fourth to tie with Jasem Alsaqer from Kuwait with identical 3,796 pinfalls.
— BERNAMA
