KUALA LUMPUR: Gillian Lim’s maiden gold medal at the Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships came the hard way after a nosebleed disrupted her opening game in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday.
The 27-year-old refused to let the setback derail her challenge, staging a remarkable comeback to capture the women’s singles crown with a six-game total of 1,368 pins.
Gillian managed just 164 pins in her opening game and was still 50 pins off the lead and 20 pins outside the medal positions after four games.
But a stunning 279 in the fifth game turned the contest on its head before she sealed the title with a final game of 221.
“I actually had a nosebleed during my first game, so it wasn’t the ideal start for me,” said Gillian.
“But I tried not to let that distract me or affect my mindset. I knew I still had a lot of games ahead, so I just focused on recovering, staying patient and taking it one shot at a time.
“I told myself to keep fighting and give myself a chance to turn things around.”
Her perseverance paid off as she finished 31 pins ahead of Taiwan’s Li Yi Rou (1,337), with South Korea’s Baek Seung Ja (1,328) taking bronze.
Gillian acknowledged that her fifth-game heroics proved crucial, but was determined not to get carried away.
“That game definitely gave me a big confidence boost and helped me build momentum. It was important for me to keep that momentum going and stay focused until the end.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to think too far ahead or get too comfortable. I just focused on finishing strong and taking care of every shot.
“I only allowed myself to celebrate once everything was over. Coach Wendy was also there to help me through the whole game,” she said.
For Gillian, the breakthrough was particularly sweet after collecting three silver medals in her previous two Asian Championships appearances.
She won a trios silver in 2023 before adding two more in the trios and five-player team events in Bangkok two years ago.
“It feels amazing and honestly, such a big relief. After winning three silvers, I really wanted to take that next step and finally stand on the highest podium,” she said.
“I’m really happy that all the hard work has paid off, and this gold means a lot to me.”
The triumph also continued Gillian’s resurgence after a difficult spell earlier this year.
The Sarawakian had enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, winning both the Malaysian International Open and National Championships, before becoming the first Malaysian to earn the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Rookie of the Year award in 2025.
However, she struggled with her form for several months this year before reclaiming the national title in October, setting the stage for her latest success in Doha.
“This gold is special because I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, and there were moments when things didn’t go the way I wanted,” she said.
Her victory also ended Malaysia’s seven-year wait for the women’s singles crown, last won by former national legend Shalin Zulkifli in Kuwait in 2019.
With Malaysia defending the overall championship title they won in Bangkok, Gillian hopes her breakthrough will inspire her teammates in the remaining events.
“I hope this gold gives my teammates a boost of confidence and motivation. It shows that we are capable of achieving our goals, and hopefully this will give everyone the belief that we can continue performing well and bring home more medals for Malaysia,” she said.
Despite the dream start, Gillian is determined to remain grounded.
“This gold gives me confidence, but I also know that every event is a new challenge. I’ll take it one event at a time, stay focused and do my best. Hopefully, we can bring home more medals for Malaysia.”