Friday, December 11, 2009

Kang's all fired up!

Kang Bo Long is all fired up to reach the final of the ongoing 10th Milo International Junior All-Stars Bowling Championship at the Sunway Mega Lanes.

Having fired the championship’s only perfect game so far on the first day of the championship on Wednesday, Kang who turned 23 on July 11, has set sight on reaching the final.

“I could not have asked for a better start to the championship with me firing the perfect game on Wednesday,” said Kang who finished third in last year’s championship.

Kang before he permed his hair for the step-ladder semifinal in the Malaysian Open in March against Zulmazran Zulkifli.

Kang collected RM1,000 for his feat for a perfect game which was his first official achievement. He has bowled the magical 300 on six other occasions – but all in training.

Although he fired a perfect game on the opening day, his other two other game scores in the block of three games – 199 and 193 – only saw him have a total 692 to be placed fourth in the Masters qualifiers standing.

However, Kang who hails from Johor, did better on Thursday, when he made another two attempts to better his Wednesday’s score. In his second attempt for the day, he had lines of 263, 201 and 269 for a total of 733 to move up to be placed joint second with Mohd Haziq Shahli.

Kang said although his current standing should see him qualify for the Masters where he can qualify from being among the top 12 local bowlers, or top 16 among the mixed group (both local and foreign bowlers), he intends to make one more attempt to better his score just for insurance.

Kang is certainly make waves this year after having reached the Malaysian Open semifinals in March where he lost to defending champion Zulmazran Zulkifli. In 2007, he was the Youth Open champion in the Malaysian Open.

Kang was immediately drafted into the national back-up squad had the opportunity of competing overseas in the 38th Philippines International Open where he finished fifth, the 12th PBAP Bevida-Storm International Classic in Manila (11th), the Indonesian International Open (6th) and 3rd Asian Indoor Games (team gold).

He is currently viewed as the most improved bowler and earmarked to make the national team soon, if he keeps up with his progress.

Kang in declaring his intention to reach the finals in the Boys’ Masters final is aware that it is not going to be an easy passage as there are many other back-up bowlers with the same intention and not to mention defending champion Adrian Ang.

“Without doubt the challenge is going to be stiff. But this is the last year I can compete in this championship as I am 23 and I naturally want to leave with a bang,” said the confident Kang.

“Every bowler has to set targets if he intends to improve and that is the very reason I want to reach the final. This means I will have to work hard and above all perform well and consistently,” said Kang who picked up the sports from his uncle ten years ago – national bowler Alex Liew.

“Uncle Alex is the reason why I am here today. He not only introduced me to the game, but coached me too. I certainly have no regrets picking up the game and intend to make the national team just like my uncle,” said the elder of two brothers in the family.

Kang is indeed focused in what he wants and his attitude towards the sports certainly looks like it will take him up the ladder of success.


No comments: