KUCHING: The 2026 Sarawak International Open Tenpin Bowling Championship (SIOTBC '26), which took place at Megalanes Sarawak from September 6 to 12, 2026, drew to a close, featuring 13 competition events that attracted a total participation of 663 competitors.

This championship welcomed 135 participants in the Open Division, 123 participants in the Classified Division, 121 participants in the 3DU Division, 103 participants in the Under-21 Division, and 69 participants in the Challenge Division.

SIOTBC 2026 organised 13 competition events across the Sub-Division and Master Final & Main Events categories.

The Sub-Division comprised eight events: U13 Girls and Boys, U14–16 Girls and Boys, U17–19 Girls and Boys, and U20–22 Girls and Boys.

Meanwhile, five events were contested in the Master Final and Main Events, which included the U21 Master Final, Challenger Crown, 3DU Master, Classified Masters, and Open Last Man Standing.

The closing ceremony of SIOTBC 2026 was officiated by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian at Megalanes Sarawak, Batu Kawa here on Saturday.

In the Sub-Division competition, the U13 Girls category saw Nur Fathi Fatihah Mohammad Zakry from the Amateur Bowling Association of Sarawak (ABAS) emerge as champion, followed by Zandra Izzara Binti Fazreen Nizam (WIPERS) in second place, and Joy Ng Le Xuan from Singapore in third place.

Meanwhile, the U13 Boys event saw Khairul A'qiff Bin Khairul Atif from Switch Bowling Academy win first place, followed by Singapore’s representative Rhys Fong Chi Shing (Agape Bowling) in second place, and Koh Tiat Meng Wilbert (Bowling Is Science) in third place.

In the U14–16 Girls event, first place was claimed by Natalie Chong Yi Wen from Team Malaysia, with Arwynn Galleina Arthur Ray (ABAS Sarawak) and Nayli Batrisyia Alya Nor Azlan (Switch Bowling Academy) placing second and third, respectively.

The U14–16 Boys event was completely dominated by ABAS Sarawak, with Muhammad Qaish Rayyan Mohammad Sabri taking the champion title, followed by Saiful Iman Shah Abdullah as runner-up, and third place going to Aiden Lim Zen Yao from MOTIV.

Furthermore, the U17–19 Girls event saw a total sweep by Team Malaysia, with Adelia Nur Irwan Syazalee claiming the championship, Intan Nor Edryana Nor Azliman finishing second, and Qurratu'Ain Izdihar Mohd Pozi placing third.

For the U17–19 Boys event, Sayed Syawal Irfan Abdullah from Team Malaysia emerged as champion, while second and third places were won by Eldred Kho Yek Zhen and Muhammad Isyraq Iqbal Bin Ramadhan from ABAS Sarawak, respectively.

In the U20–22 Girls event, Nurul Anis Nabila Mohd Nizam from Team Malaysia clinched first place, Lavinia Kho Jia Jie (ABAS Sarawak/SPI Malaysia) finished as runner-up, and Nur Aleeya Syakirah Binti Awang Ali (Team Malaysia) took third place.

The U20–22 Boys event saw the championship title go to Izz Naqiuddin Putera Bin Islahuddin, with second place claimed by Muhammad Danial Abu Samah from Team Malaysia, while third place went to Jereniq Ho Shu Jin from Sunway Megalanes.

For the Master Final and Main Events category, the U21 Master Final event saw Lavinia Kho Jia Jie from ABAS Sarawak/SPI Malaysia excel to win the category, followed by Sean Nguyen Phuc Gia Dang from Vietnam (Xproshop) in second place, while third place was shared between Gerald Ethan Tony (ABAS Sarawak) and Muhammad Aiman Syahin Bin Sulaiman (Team Malaysia).

In the Challenger Crown event, the championship title went to Hong Kong, China representative Hon Nga Pok Ambrose (Confia Proshop), followed by Nur Amirah Ng from Singapore (Agape Bowling) in second place, as well as Melvin Gilbert Gimang Anak Tingau (ABAS Sarawak) and Thailand’s Phanupong Permpimol (Storm Thailand/MPP) joint-third.

For the 3DU Master event, Megat Zaqrul Haiqal Megat Zairudin secured first place, while Izz Naqiuddin Putera Islahuddin and Airel Amri Suhaimi from Team Malaysia placed second and third, respectively.

In the Classified Masters event, Chong Jun Foo from ABAS/Hero Bowling topped the tournament as champion, followed by Li Zhen Yu from Chinese Taipei in second place, and Abang Aqasha Abang Esmiera from ABAS Sarawak in third place.

The pinnacle of the championship saw the Open Last Man Standing event won by Chinese Taipei bowler Lin Yifeng, while second place went to Phanupong Permpimol from Thailand, and Team Malaysia representatives Muhamad Noor Hidayat Muhamad Nazri and Muhammad Danial Abu Samah finished in third and fourth places, respectively. — UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos: Shahril Haqim
Translator: Ryan Lim