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Tuesday October 13, 2009

Zulmazran, Siti vows to strike it right in World Cup

By RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: Bowlers Zulmazran Zulkifli and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman have their birthdays in the week of the AMF World Cup from Nov 14 at the new 52-lane Malacca International Bowling Centre (MIBC).

And the duo have pledged to make it an extra special tournament to remember by winning honours for the country.

Up for it: Siti Safiyah and Zulmazran hope to make it a birthday to remember at the AMF World Cup in Malacca next month.

Zulmazran turns 26 on Nov 20, which is the day of the victory banquet, while Siti turns 19 on the eve of competition on Nov 14.

The flamboyant Zulmazran, who is the country’s most successful bowler this year, said that it would be his best opportunity to end the country’s drought in the World Cup.

“This year’s World Cup means a lot to me because it is held in Malaysia and also during my birthday. I am determined to be in action in the final (on Nov 19),” said Zulmazran in a press conference at the KL Tower yesterday.

“I love to promote my sport (bowling) and I think this is the best time to thrust it into the limelight. I believe I can win it.”

He felt that American top pro Walter Ray Williams Jr would be the bowler to beat.

“Many countries wll be represented by their best bowlers following the Americans’ decision to name Walter. It will be a very competitive field this time,” said Zulmazran, who struck a perfect game en route to finishing third in the World Cup in Mexico last year.

“American pros have dominated in the last three tournaments in Asia. The Asians will be out to stop them.

“I think, I am in the same class as the American pros. If I can put on a little more work and stay focused, I can win the AMF World Cup for Malaysia for the first time.”

Siti, the reigning World Ranking Masters champion, has been putting in extra hours of training to come good in the tournament.

“It will be ideal to celebrate my 19th birthday as World Cup champion. To achieve this, I have been spending more hours on improving my accuracy,” she said.

“The bowlers from the US and Europe will be the ones to beat.”

Meanwhile, Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary Sidney Tung said that both Zulmazran and Siti would spend two weeks at the MIBC prior to the competition to get used to the conditions at the new bowling alley.

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