8th October, Petaling Jaya: Ex-international, Muhammad Hazi Alihanafiah of Kuala Lumpur and national bowler, Gillian Lim were crowned national champions at the concluding 46th Malaysian National Bowling Championships at Sunway Megalanes on Tuesday.

Muhammad Hazim, 23 rolled eight strikes-in-a-row to open up a decent gap over challenger and overwhelming favorite, Rafiq Ismail in the title match. Rafiq, who responded with six consecutive strikes from frame 3, just could not match the pace set by his rival.

The top seed went on to capture the crown, 267-241 in a highly entertaining finale. Muhammad Hazim, who competes professionally after being dropped as a national bowler (2016 and 201), earned RM9,000 for his effort while Rafiq, who won four gold medals at the recent Asian Championships, took home RM4,000.

For Rafiq, the defeat meant he was denied a fourth title which could have seen him equal Y.H. Foong's all-time best record. Rafiq was a three-time champion in 2015, 2018 and 2022. National youth member and recent Asian Championships Doubles gold medalist, Shaqeem Izwan Teh of Kuala Lumpur, lost to Rafiq 185-238 in the earlier semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Gillian Lim defeated fellow national team-mate and third-seed, Nur Syazwani Sahar of Kuala Lumpur, in a nervy women's championships match, 164-158 for the Women's crown. The victory made the Sarawakian the first bowler to win both the Malaysian Open in May and the National Championships in the same year.

Second-seed, Sharon Koh's fine run was ended by Syazwani with a 182-223 lost in the women's semi-final match. For Koh, she could have broken the current record-tying fifth title which she shares with Shalin Zulkifli.

Muhammad Hazim topped the earlier 8-game finals with 1836, 15 pins ahead of Rafiq, who finished second with 1821. Shaqeem made the cut for the stepladder finals in third with 1783. Reigning Malaysian Open champion, Hafiz Zainuddin of Kuala Lumpur missed the cut by 36 pins in fourth.

Gillian almost led from start to finish to end the 8-game finals with 1758 and advance to the stepladder finals as top seed. Koh settled for second with 1708 while Syazwani edged four-time national champion and favorite, Sin Li Jane by 3 pins to clinch the final stepladder spot.