Winning titles and creating history means much more to national tenpin bowler Natasha Roslan than monetary rewards. Natasha created history by becoming the first Malaysian female player to win the singles title at the IBF World Cup in Hong Kong last week. She also won the women’s team silver together with teammates Sin Li Jane, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman and Gillian Lim. Unfortunately, the squad will not receive any incentives from the government as the IBF World Cup is not listed under the National Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam).

Natasha said winning the singles gold gives her a timely confidence boost ahead of what is set to be an important year. The World Championships will also be held in Hong Kong in November while the Thailand Sea Games will be held the following month. “I was not really expecting to win the singles gold. My target was more towards the team event, we wanted to achieve better than the bronze we won two years ago,” said Natasha when met at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport today. “Obviously, I am really happy to win the singles gold. This is just the start for me, I hope to achieve much more for Malaysia this year. “Winning the title and creating history is more important to me because it is not easy to do. Creating history itself is a huge win for me, Shakam is just a bonus. “I am also happy with our performance in the women’s team event, we really fought hard and barely lost (3-2) to the United States in the final.”

Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress president Datuk Najeeb Abdullah said the national body will look to reward the bowlers for their fine performances in Hong Kong, though did not delve into details. National bowlers also emerged victorious in the men’s team event (Rafiq Ismail, Timmy Tan, Ahmad Muaz Fishol, Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam) in Hong Kong. It was also a historic achievement as it was the first time Malaysia has won the title. Rafiq also claimed silver in the men’s singles event.