National women’s bowler Sin Li Jane has come a long way since her early days in the sport. Thinking back to her childhood at the Royal Perak Golf Club when she was first introduced to bowling, she laughed as she said: “When I was eight, I was actually rolling the ball with two hands because it was too heavy.” She told FMT Lifestyle that her parents often took her and her two older brothers to the club during school holidays, filling their days with tennis, swimming, and bowling. But for Sin, one sport stood out. “I just liked bowling more than tennis or swimming.” Fast forward to August 2024, and the young girl from Ipoh made history by becoming the champion of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour Championship. She also clinched the coveted Player of the Year title – becoming the first Asian to do so, and earning herself a Malaysia Book of Records award. “I was having the best time of my life there,” Sin, 32, shared. “I’m trying to let every moment sink in. I thought about winning, but not that many titles!”

Her victory has marked a triumphant return to the sport after a three-year break from the PWBA Tour. Sin captured not only the 2024 US Women’s Open but also two other major titles. She capped off the season by defeating Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova, 226-214, earning her first career major. “I don’t really like to think of winning that much. I like to enjoy the process more,” she explained. “Once you enjoy the process, everything will fall into place.”

It’s this mindset that got her through the ups and downs of a demanding career, especially when she was younger. After all, Sin, who trains at the Sunway Megalanes every weekday, started representing her home state at just nine years old. She said she used to practise bowling in the morning, then head to school in the afternoon. “That was quite hectic for me as a child,” she admitted. Like any athlete, Sin has her rough days. “There are many moments when you feel like giving up. There are days that you really bowl really bad.”

Through it all, however, her family has stood by her. Her mum even gave up her career, relocating to Kuala Lumpur when Sin was 14 and studying at the Bukit Jalil Sport School. “When I went to the US, my mum and brother flew out to be with me for three weeks,” she said. Sin also credits her national head coach, Ben Heng Boon Hian, and the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) for helping her stay focused. Despite her achievements, she remains refreshingly humble. With victories at four Singapore Opens and several world championship silver medals, she’s established herself as one of the sport’s best. Yet, she doesn’t let the accolades get to her. “As an athlete, you only have a certain amount of golden time for you to shine,” she reflected. Her return to the PWBA Tour was driven by a desire to test her limits and prove to herself that she still has what it takes to win. Winning the Singapore Open in 2023, after the challenges of Covid-19, was a turning point in her career and one that reignited her confidence. “It means that I’m still capable of doing what I’ve been doing.”

Off the lanes, Sin enjoys simple pleasures – coffee breaks that allow her to reflect and recharge. “I don’t go for other sports,” she said. “You never know, you might get excited and injured!” Looking ahead, Sin’s goals are clear but grounded. She’s eyeing major titles like the United States Bowling Congress Queens, an annual bowling event for female bowlers, and the World Championship, but she’s not putting too much pressure on herself. “If you’re competing in professional tournaments, you’re competing with hundreds of people who know how to bowl!” While Sin has cemented her place in bowling history, her love for the game and the relationships she’s built along the way truly define her success. As she puts it: “My ultimate goal right now is to enjoy every moment that I’m having while I’m still a bowler.”