'Mr. Perfect' Ryan wants more before time is up<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Although Ryan Leonard Lalisang plans to quit bowling in the
\nnext three years to return to the classroom, his nickname Mr.
\nPerfect is likely to stick with him for a long time to come.<\/p>\n
He scored a perfect game of 300 in the final of the Malaysian
\nleg of the 2004 Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) Tour in March to
\nwin the title in style.<\/p>\n
It also gave him the award of the highest game scorer of the
\nTour from the ABF. It was nothing new for him; he has recorded 10
\nperfect games in his career.<\/p>\n
Ryan, 24, ranked fourth on the 2004 ABF Tour, his highest ever
\nranking.<\/p>\n
Formerly, he finished ninth at the 2001 AMF World Cup in
\nPattaya, Thailand.<\/p>\n
\"Competition is very tight in men's bowling,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"So, I am pleased with my present achievements, but I still
\nwant to win more in the next three years before I quit.\"<\/p>\n
That includes the ongoing ABF Tournament of Champions, which
\nwill finish on Sunday, more legs of the ABF Tour, playing in the
\nWorld Tenpin Masters and World Cup, as well as winning gold in
\nthe Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in Manila later this year.<\/p>\n
It's a lot to be crammed into three short years before his
\nplanned retirement. Ryan wants to return to his studies, now put
\non hold for the sake of his bowling, preferably at a university
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
Like his female compatriot Putty Armein, Ryan was forced to
\nquit studying law at Atmajaya University in Jakarta in 2002 after
\ntwo years, due to the difficulty in gaining a leave of absence to
\nplay in tournaments.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes I don't understand the policy of universities here,
\nincluding mine. I know that in my university, some basketball
\nplayers, for example, could easily take leave for competition
\nreason, but not a bowler.\"<\/p>\n
He has no regrets about taking the hiatus from his studies,
\nfor his tournament earnings will be able to support his
\neducation.<\/p>\n
Ryan also received a Rp 200 million bonus after winning three
\ngolds and one silver for Jakarta in the 2004 National Games in
\nPalembang.<\/p>\n
But the rewards have come with sacrifices.<\/p>\n
The youngest of three children of Robert and Vonny Lalisang
\nleft home in Balikpapan, where his father worked in an oil firm,
\nfor Jakarta in 1997 to train and participate in the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
\"I was a first year student in senior high school at that
\ntime. But my decision to move to Jakarta led me to win a silver
\nand a bronze at the 1997 SEA Games.\"<\/p>\n
Sponsored by Jaya Ancol Bowl and Columbia for bowling
\nequipment, Ryan is respected by other bowlers.<\/p>\n
Shaker Al Hassan of the United Arab Emirates, who won the
\nIndonesia Open last October, said he was impressed by the
\nIndonesian's play.<\/p>\n
\"I saw him do some good bowling in Hong Kong late last year.
\nCertainly he is a tough contender, especially if he plays at home
\nlike in the Tournament of Champions.\"<\/p>\n
Although he noted Ryan's lack of preparation for the Indonesia
\nOpen, in which he performed poorly, \"but Ryan is still one of the
\nbest bowlers in Asia as he managed to qualify for the Tournament
\nof Champions\".<\/p>",
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