Muhammad Syafiq Ridhwan and Gillian Lim are the 2026 Malaysian national champions. Syafiq won the men's open division at MTBC's 48th National Championships 2026 for his third national title. Gillian, from Sarawak, won the women's open for her second, after her first in 2024. MTBC announced the results on 8 October 2026.
Open division champions
MTBC's report named the two winners. But it did not give scores or runners-up, so we have kept the table short.
| Division | Champion | National titles |
|---|---|---|
| Men's open | Muhammad Syafiq Ridhwan | 3rd |
| Women's open | Gillian Lim Siew Giok | 2nd (first in 2024) |
Gillian Lim's strong week
Gillian came in with form. Just before the nationals, she won the women's all events at the 37th Interstate Championships, helping Sarawak to second in the state medal table. In February, MTBC secretary Maradona Chok also named her as a product of Sarawak's bowling programmes. She and Syafiq are both in MTBC's Podium Squad.
Other names on the podium
MTBC's photos also show Adelia Nur, Nur Syazwani Sahar, Tun Ameerul Al-Hakim and Isaac Russell Paul among the open finalists. But the article did not give their places, so we can't say who was second or third. Both Adelia and Tun Hakim are also in Malaysia's squad for the IBF World Cup in Munich.
Youth graded results
The National Championships 2026 also had a youth graded division. It gives young bowlers with lower averages a title of their own. MTBC listed the top three boys and girls.
| Place | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Khayreena | Muhammad Hani Athirmizee |
| 2 | Nur Fathi Fatihah | Irfan Carl Iskandar Azlisham |
| 3 | Nur Athirah Nadia Nasir | Khalish Danish Azizi Abdul Khaliq |
Nur Fathi Fatihah has had a good year. In June, she won the women's graded title at the Malaysian Open for ABAS Sarawak.
Where the National Championships 2026 fit in
In 2026, MTBC ran the nationals straight after the Interstate. For club bowlers, it is the top domestic individual title. MTBC did not state the venue in its article. Earlier coverage pointed to Sunway Mega Lanes in Petaling Jaya, MTBC's home. We could not confirm that, though. To bowl there, see our Selangor bowling alleys page.
Next on the home calendar are the MILO Storm U22 All-Stars and the 52nd Penang International, both in December. You can find every date on our bowling competitions calendar, and see profiles of the top players on our Malaysian athletes page.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the 2026 Malaysian national bowling champions?
Muhammad Syafiq Ridhwan won the men's open title and Gillian Lim won the women's open title at MTBC's 48th National Championships. MTBC announced the results on 8 October 2026. It was Syafiq's third national title and Gillian's second.
When did Gillian Lim first win the nationals?
Gillian Lim won her first women's national title in 2024, according to MTBC. Her 2026 win made it two. She also won the women's all events at the 37th Interstate Championships for Sarawak just before the nationals.
Who won the youth graded divisions?
Mayra Khayreena won the girls' youth graded title ahead of Nur Fathi Fatihah and Nur Athirah Nadia Nasir. Muhammad Hani Athirmizee won the boys' event, ahead of Irfan Carl Iskandar Azlisham and Khalish Danish Azizi Abdul Khaliq.
How do you qualify for the Malaysian nationals?
We could not find a public entry guide for the nationals on MTBC's website. Since bowlers enter MTBC events through their state associations, start with your state association, or email MTBC at [email protected] and ask how selection works.
