The Sinai International Open Bowling Championship begins in Cairo, reports Ghada Abdel-Kader The 12th Sinai International Open Bowling Championship got underway on the occasion of Sinai Liberation Day. The championship, hosted by the Egyptian Bowling Federation under the auspices of the head of the National Sports Council Hassan Sakr, is being staged at Cairo's International Bowling Centre in Nasr City in Cairo -- not Sinai -- from 19-29 April. In April 1982 Sinai returned to Egypt after it had been captured by Israel during the 1967 war. The participating countries are Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Mauritius, Thailand, the US, Philippines, Spain, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, England, Pakistan and host Egypt. In 2006, Egyptian Mahmoud Mazloum won the men's title while Suzan El-Azabi from the Interior Club won the women's event. Last year, Kuwaiti bowler Hanadi Al-Muzaiel won the women's title and Qatari Youssef Al-Gabr the men's. This year, the world's leading ten-pin bowler, American Tim Mack, is participating. Before Mack turned professional, he was considered the world's best amateur. From the Arab countries are Saudi Fahad Al-Jerivani, Kuwaiti Rakan Nuri, Bahraini Mohamed Falah and the Egyptian champions Tarek Helmi and Tarel Mazloum. The women bowlers are Kuwaiti Hanadi Al-Muzaiel, Bahraini Noura Sultan, Hend Youssef of the UAE and Egyptians Amal Bakr, Aliaa Ismail and Hala Khafaga. The Sinai championship is sanctioned by the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) and the World Ten-Pin Association (WTBA). It will be conducted under the Federation International des Quilleurs (FIQ) and WTBA Rules and Regulations. The official opening of the championship was Wednesday 21 April and the closing ceremony will be on the 29th. "We expect that this year the number of participating Arab and foreign players will exceed 150 bowlers in addition to the Egyptian players," Ahmed Nasr, president of the Egyptian Bowling Federation (EBF), said. "We are trying to attract the largest number of countries. Last year, the total prize money was $44,000 including taxes but this year it went up to $62,000 with tax," Nasr added. The winner in the men's event will be awarded a gold medal and a $12,000 cheque while $4,500 awaits the best female. Second place winners will receive a silver medal and $6,500; $3,200 goes to the bridesmaid. Third place winners will receive a bronze medal and $3,200 and $2,200 respectively. For the second time, the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), headed by Sayed Farghali, is the chief sponsor of the championship. "The ABF agreed for the first time to hold an Asian ranking tournament in Egypt. It will also serve as a qualifying round towards the inaugural ABF Egypt 2010 Tour starting 30 April. The top 16 Asian men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters will compete in a one- game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles. The total money prize is $100, 000," added Nasr. "The Asian ranking tournament is not held in every Open championship. The best 14 countries in Asia will enter the world ranking in order to host the World Championship," said Mohamed Wagdi El-Kurdi, director of the tournament. Executive ABF committee member Farouk Haridi added, "The main prerequisite to establish an African Bowling Federation is to have at least six countries bowling professionally. Until now we have five countries -- Morocco, South Africa, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. We are waiting for one more country." The qualifying trials consist of the highest total pin-fall for two blocks of four games each. Multiple re-entries are permitted with no limit but are subject to lane availability. Upon the completion of the trials, the field will be cut to the top 32 bowlers plus the best four Egyptians in the men's event. The best 14 players in addition to the best Egyptian players are chosen in the women's discipline. In the final round, each bowler plays 12 games starting from the scratch. In the round robin final, in the men's event, the top 15 players plus the best Egyptian player are chosen. In the women's event, the top seven players plus the best Egyptian player are chosen. Bowlers will play a one-game match against each other in their respective divisions plus a position round. The scoring system will be the total pin-fall plus 10 for a win and 5 for a tie. A loss equates to zero points. This includes the position round starting from scratch. In the stepladder and final format, the top four men and women will advance to the stepladder finals in a one-game match. The fourth plays against the third player. The winner plays the second best player and the winner faces the No 1 for the title.
