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The Star
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Li Jane's Triple Crown dream dashed in Las Vegas
PETALING JAYA: National bowler Sin Li Jane's hopes of capturing the Triple Crown were dashed as she settled for second place at the USBC Queens in Las Vegas on Tuesday (May 20). Li Jane came close to achieving the milestone but was cut short by top seed Josie Barnes of the United States as the home favourite won 211-198 at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino. The 33-year-old Li Jane had already won the US Women's Open and PWBA Tour Championship last year, and was just one win away from sealing the Triple Crown. It was Li Jane's second runner-up finish at the tournament after also coming in second at the 2016 edition. The reigning PWBA Player of the Year had entered the final after defeating compatriot Nur Hazirah Ramli 235-211 in the semi-finals. Hazirah had a dream run in Las Vegas, sealing her spot in the stepladder finals as the second seed in her first time competing in the United States and debut in the PWBA Tour. Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Hazirah shines in Vegas, could face Li Jane for Queens title
KUALA LUMPUR: Debutant Nur Hazirah Ramli is on the brink of a sensational victory at the prestigious USBC Queens as she and compatriot Sin Li Jane stormed into the top five stepladder finals of the PWBA Tour major in Las Vegas yesterday (May 19). Hazirah appeared unfazed in her maiden PWBA Tour appearance. She booked her place in the title match after toppling several Tour heavyweights - including Colombia's Clara Guerrero, American Missy Parkin and Poland's Daria Pajak - during the two-day match play stage at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino. Played over a three-game series with total pinfall determining the winner, Hazirah marched to the final from the "Winners Bracket" but narrowly missed out on securing the top seed billing after falling 603–699 to American Josie Barnes. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old is now just two wins away from capturing one of the PWBA's most coveted crowns. "The thought of reaching the final is exciting. After all the years of sweat, tears and miles travelled, it now comes down to (securing) two wins," said Hazirah. "I'm trying my best not to let the moment overwhelm me, but instead to stay present and enjoy it." She is assured of at least a third-place finish which is already a remarkable achievement for her Tour debut. Li Jane, the reigning PWBA Player of the Year, secured the third seed slot by topping a fiercely contested four-way playoff in the "Elimination Bracket" with a scorching 735 series. She outscored Bercier (685), Guerrero (679) and American Elysia Current (641) to stay in the title hunt. In the stepladder format, Guerrero will face Canada's Valerie Bercier in the opening match, with Li Jane awaiting the winner. A victory would set up an all-Malaysian final between Li Jane and Hazirah in the US$60,000 (RM257,000) competition. For Li Jane, this marks her third stepladder finals appearance at the Queens, having finished fifth in 2016 and runner-up in 2019. Li Jane will be aiming to replicate her superb 2024 season, which saw her capture four titles — including two majors, the US Women's Open and the PWBA Tour Championship — en route to being crowned Player of the Year. A USBC Queens triumph would complete her collection of PWBA majors and further cement her legacy. She has already shown signs of solid form this year, having finished sixth at the season-opening Topeka Open in Kansas just two weeks ago - narrowly missing out on a top-five stepladder spot. Several other Malaysians also made it to the top 64 match play stage, marking the strongest national presence at the USBC Queens since 2017. All competed out of their own pockets, as the PWBA Tour is not covered under the national team's annual tournament budget. Among them were reigning World Cup winner Natasha Roslan, Gillian Lim, Nur Syazwani Sahar, Nora Lyana Nastasia Norkamal, and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman. Natasha's run was halted by Li Jane herself, while Gillian fell to Stephanie Casey, Syazwani was stopped by Parkin, Nora lost to Rebecca Hagerman and Siti was defeated by Bercier. Esther Cheah and Alisha Iman Cheong did not advance past the preliminary 15-game roll-off.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
National keglers Nur Hazirah, Li Jane book spots in stepladdeer finals at USBC Queens
PETALING JAYA: National bowlers Nur Hazirah Ramli and Sin Li Jane managed to book their spots in the stepladder finals of the USBC Queens on Monday (May 19). Nur Hazirah, the newest member of the national team, guaranteed herself a place in the stepladder finals after defeating Colombia's Clara Guerrero 672-629 to make it to the top two at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Nur Hazirah lost to American Josie Barnes 603-699 in the winners bracket but will be seeded second in the finals on Tuesday (May 20). Meanwhile, Li Jane will be seeded third after she topped the last four in the elimination bracket. The PWBA Player of the Year made her way into the final elimination bracket after defeating compatriot Natasha Roslan 617-613. Guerrero and Canada's Valerie Bercier will compete in the first stepladder to determine the fourth and fifth seed for the finals.
