The 60' Challenge 2011 "The USPTN Edition"

The January edition of the 60' Challenge 2011 saw 18 youths, mainly from the Pusat Cemerlang and U.S.P.T.N. AA training program at Crystal Bowl, compete for the monthly bragging rights as champions.

This January edition was a plastic ball only contest where bowlers were only allowed to use plastic bowling balls for their first and spare shot. The reason why this format chosen by the coaches was to open the youths mind towards the use of plastic balls not only for spares but also as a striking first ball. As a plastic ball reacts differently as compared to their usual urethane, reactive urethane of partical bowling balls they use to take their 1st shots, it forces the youths to think and to adjust their game to achieve optimum impact and pin carry.

The coaches' objective of organising a monthly tournament with different formats of play starting with this January's plastic balls only edition is to ensure these youths constantly feel the tournament atmosphere to keep them sharp and ready but not forgetting the "enjoy the game" factor as well. With the different format of tournament play available in bowling, these youths will have a chance to experience different pressures and learn to think and game plan suitable physical and psychological strategies.

Dubbed affectionately as "King Kong" by coaches and his fellow trainees, the 2nd runner-up in the recent Milo International Junior All-Star Jeremy Jerome Jonathan, being the 1st seed after collecting the highest 12 game total pinfalls beat his younger brother, Joshua Joel "The Mouse" Jonathan in the stepladder finals 195 to 128 for the January title and won himself some "ang pau" money for the coming Chinese New Year, a gold medal as well as 1 month's gloating rights.

In the 1 game semi-final match which was a 2nd vs 3rd vs 4th seed head to head knockout round, 4th seed Joshua a 13 year old Form 1 student from Batu Lintang Secondary School earned his right to challenge his big brother after the has to sweat his way to a 178 score, a 1 pin victory over Mohd Uzair Irsyad's effort of 177 pinfalls who was then 2nd seed after the 12 games qualifying round. Razif Safini was the other semi-finalist ranked as the 3rd seed but found the going tough as he fell of the pace and could only managed 143 score.

The top 3 boys (from left: Joshua Joel, Jeremy Jerome and Mohd Uzair)

The full results (click on image to enlarge):- 

If there was ever a "commitment" award then without doubt the winner would be the siblings of Ellysha Syafeena, the 2010 SportExcel National Junior Youth Circuit Under-12 GP Finals and Sarawak Leg gold medalist and her sister Aidilya Natasha who were part of the Kuching based trainees but had to move to Sibu because of parents' occupational obligations but it still did not deter their participation as they made the 6 hours road trip together with their mum, Puan Nishah Erdeena who has been a great fan and supporter of her  two daughter's bowling future. Now that is what we call COMMITMENT!!!

Good job and well done boys and girls and MUMs and DADs too!!!

Scenes from the event :-

from left - Ryan Lanyu and Rachel Boon / sitting - Ethan Lo

Jeremy Jerome Jonathan in action

All the way from Sibu, Ellysha Syafeena (in red) and sister Aidilya Natasha (in green) with Ennette Faith (in orange)

4th placing Razif Safini with P.C. Coach Myron Khoo

Mohd Uzair (left) with Myron Khoo

Joshua Joel (left) with Myron Khoo

Jeremy Jerome (left) with Myron Khoo