Rising star Izz Naqiuddin bowls to KL Open victory
SUBANG JAYA: Rising national bowler Izz Naqiuddin Putera Islahuddin continued to stake his claim as a future star after clinching the Mixed Open title at the Kuala Lumpur Open on Sunday.
The 21-year-old topped a strong 36-bowler field with 1,993 pinfalls over 10 games at Sunway Mega Lanes, finishing ahead of Ahmad Azriq Izam (1,951) and Ahmad Aidil Abdul Halim (1,882).
The field included national stars like Rafiq Ismail and Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, as well as regional heavyweights Ryan Lalisang, Yannaphon Larpapharat and Australia's Sam Cooley — making Izz's win all the more impressive.
"It felt great to come out on top today, especially in a field that had my idol Rafiq Ismail," said Izz, who earned RM30,000 in prize money.
"I bowled consistently, didn't have to adjust much. I'm happy because hard work pays off."
The victory marked Izz's third career title after winning the Penang Pesta International in 2023 and the Sonic Classic in Singapore last year.
The win was also a timely response after a poor title defence at the Sonic Classic and a 16th-place finish at the Malaysian Open last month.
Izz was a surprise pick for last year's Asian Championships in Bangkok, selected ahead of regulars like Timmy Tan and Ahmad Muaz Fishol, and he justified it by helping Malaysia win team silver.
Now eyeing a spot at the World Championships in Hong Kong or Sea Games in Thailand later this year, Izz hopes this title will boost his case.
"This gives me confidence. Only six make the squad, and it would be my debut if I get in," he said.
"I'm saving most of the prize money but plan to buy something nice for my dad too."
Nur Syazwani Sahar also impressed, retaining her women's Open title with a 10th-place finish (1,776).
The 26-year-old had only returned from the United States last Friday after finishing joint 13th at the USBC Queens, where she competed against nearly 200 bowlers.
"I started with a perfect game, but a bad pair of lanes threw me off. I regrouped and aimed for a 200 average, finishing with a 243," she said.
"Given the jet lag, I'm pretty satisfied."
Syazwani took home RM7,850 — RM7,000 for the women's crown and RM850 for her overall finish — and now shifts focus to next week's Singapore Open, where she's targeting a top-10 result.
Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik and Lavinia Kho finished as the second and third-best women respectively.
Among other notable national stars, Ahmad Muaz Fishol (1,815) and Hafiz Zainuddin (1,813) placed sixth and seventh, while Tun Hakim (1,786) was ninth.
Rafiq (1,732) and Timmy Tan (1,706) ended 16th and 19th.
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