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