KUALA LUMPUR: After failing to make the team for the Asian Youth Championships, Megat Zaqrul Haiqal Megat Zairudin redeemed himself by winning the boys' Open at the National Championships on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old southpaw posted a 1,631 total over eight games to secure the top spot in the 21-player contest at the Sunway Mega Lanes.
Favourite Izz Naqiuddin Putera Islahuddin, a double gold medalist at last week's Interstate Championships, came in second with a total of 1,608, followed by 13-year-old Sarawakian prodigy Ethan Damien, who claimed the bronze with 1,585.
Zaqrul, who won his maiden national youth crown on his second attempt, said: "It feels great to become a national youth champion, it means a lot to me because the competition is so intense."
Zaqrul, who helped Penang to win the men's doubles and team gold medals in the Interstate meet, had also won the 2019 Penang Pesta International, 2021 Junior All-Stars and Singapore Open in April.
However, the Singapore title wasn't enough to earn Zaqrul a spot on the four-member team for the Asian Youth Championships in Bangkok in July.
"It was obviously disappointing that I didn't get picked, but I took it positively. I stepped up my efforts in training to improve, and my hard work paid off with this win," he said.
"I want to keep this momentum going and will try to contend for the men's Open title next."
The girls' Open title went to Nurul Anis Nabila Nizam after she amassed a total of 1,679 pins, defeating her national teammate Nur Hazirah Ramli by just 11 pins. Perak's Nuratiqah Syaugina Hasmidi finished third with 1,667.
