SINGAPORE: The brilliance of Sarawak's young tenpin bowling athlete continues to shine on the international stage as Lavinia Kho Jia Jie successfully claimed the Women's Open title at the 56th Singapore International Open Bowling Championship 2026, held from 30 May to 13 June at SingaporeBowling @ Rifle Range.

The victory marks yet another proud achievement for Sarawak's tenpin bowling fraternity, as Lavinia overcame a formidable field of international competitors to capture one of Asia's most prestigious bowling titles, while also bringing home prize money totalling SGD10,000.

Entering the stepladder final as the second seed following the conclusion of Round 2 of the Open Masters, Lavinia delivered an outstanding performance with remarkable composure throughout the championship rounds.

She launched her title campaign with a dominant display against fellow Malaysian player Anis Hannani Romzi, recording a commanding 258–166 victory to advance to the final.

Awaiting her on the final stage was the reigning Thailand Open champion, Nora Lyana Nastasia, setting the scene for a highly anticipated clash between two of the region's finest women's tenpin bowling players.

Lavinia rose to the challenge in style, defeating Nora 192–184 in the first match of the championship final, forcing a sudden-death decider.

With the title on the line, Lavinia maintained her focus and displayed remarkable mental fortitude, overcoming Nora 201–188 in the deciding match to confirm her championship and complete a glorious week in Singapore.

The triumph was further enriched by the impressive performances of the Sarawak contingent throughout the tournament.

In the Men's Open Division, Tsen Fan Yew, representing the Malaysian National Team, along with Muhd Isyraq Iqbal Ramadhan, successfully advanced to the final in a competition that brought together some of the region's finest players.

Sarawak also excelled in the Women's Open Division, with Gillian Lim and Nur Hazirah Ramli, competing under the Malaysian National Team banner, alongside Adriana Ramiza Ramulo and Nur Fathi Fatihah, all qualifying for the final rounds, a testament to the quality of young talent the state possesses.

The outstanding performances at this championship further cement Sarawak's reputation as one of Malaysia's leading forces in tenpin bowling.

With its athletes consistently advancing to the finals of major international tournaments and clinching titles, the state's bowling development programme continues to produce players capable of competing successfully at the highest level.

Lavinia's achievement adds yet another proud chapter to Sarawak's ever-growing list of international bowling accomplishments, and it is hoped that her success will inspire a new generation of athletes aspiring to bring glory to both the state and the nation on the world stage. -UKASnews

Translator : Uilson Ng