Yap continues rampage, enters Malaysian Masters semis

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Cecilia Yap, fresh from her stirring victory in the 24th Malaysian International Open Bowling Championships Saturday, continued to dish out big games as she beat 1998 Grand Slam champion Sarah Yap of Malaysia to advance to the semifinal round of the Malaysia Masters Cup Sunday.

Yap, who got the top seeding following her victory over two-time World Cup champion Tseng Su-fen of Taiwan, outclassed the former champ, 192-143, to arrange a semis clash with Taiwan’s Wang Yu-ling.

Two other Taiwanese, Hung Shu-chun and Tseng Su-fen, dispute the other final berth, underscoring Taiwan’s impressive performance in the event.

The Tour’s first qualifier from Brunei, Awangku Eshamuddin Pengiran Mohiddin, booted out the fourth and final Malaysian men’s hopeful, Pang Boon Say, 192-180.

Former international Azidi Ameran, the best Malaysian finisher at the10th spot in the just-concluded Malaysian International Open, was shown the door by Wu Siu-hong of Hong Kong when he lost, 160-176.

Then national bowler Lai Chuen Lian was outscored by the reigning Asian Bowling Tour Grand Slam champion, Wang Yu-jen of Taiwan, with 176-203, while Jackson Ting lost, 182-224, to Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-ping.

Sarah Yap upstaged former champion and compatriot Low Poh Lian 190-176 in the opening round, and Malaysia’s top bowler, Shalin Zulkifli, saw her jinx in the Tour continued when she was defeated by Taiwan’s Huang Chiung-yao 172-169.

"It was very difficult to make the right lines playing on this lane condition. I just found the right pockets a few times during the game," Sarah Yap said.

After four years of the Tour, this was the first time that Malaysia failed to make it to the semifinals.

Monday’s men’s semifinals pit Taiwan’s Tseng Sheng-hsien against Siu-hong while Yu-ping plays Singapore’s Tom Hahl, the second seed.

In the women’s section, Cecilia Yap will be up against Taiwan’s Wang Yu-ling while two Taiwanese, Hung Shu-chun and Tseng Su-fen, will face each other.