26th February, Hong Kong: After the success of the ABF Tour in 2004, it is time for the Tour to go to its next stage. In 2005, the Tour is adding two new stops in the western region of ABF for the first time ever. The first leg of the Tour will kick-off at Qatar Bowling Centre in Doha, Qatar on 28 February 2005, and then follow by the second leg in Kuwait on 20 March 2005.

These two new legs are added onto the existing 6 legs. ABF Tour now consists of 8 legs and the Tournament of Champions. The Tour not only increases the number of Tour legs, but also raises the level of challenge for bowlers. High calibre bowling of top 16 men bowlers from the ABF Tour - Qatar will be broadcast LIVE on Qatar TV from 3:30pm - 5:00pm (Doha time, GMT +3).

Local bowling hero - Ahmed Shaheen (winner of ABF Tour 2004 - Thailand) will be ready to show his power of bowling in front of the bowling fans in his home town. Another West Asian top bowler Shaker Al Hassan from UAE (winner of ABF Tour 2004 - Indonesia) will also join in the battle for the first Title in the 2005 ABF Tour.

The Tour 2004 Tournament of Champions winner - Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong will compete in the HH Emir Cup to qualify for the ABF Tour - Qatar. The event will be hosted at the Qatar Bowling Centre which will also be the official venue for the Doha Asian Games in 2006.

Together with WU, the 2002 Busan Asian Games Gold Medalist - Remy Ong from Singapore will also go to Doha for the Tour as well. It is definitely a great opportunity for bowlers to test the lanes before the Asian Game which will be held in December 2006 in Doha.

Sheikh Talal M. Al Sabah, President of ABF said: "I am very excited that the ABF Tour is finally brought to this part of Asia. I am sure that there will be spectacular and exciting bowling on TV for the bowling enthusiasts all over West Asia."

Mrs. Vivien Fung, Chairman of ABF Tour expressed: "We have been working hard to bring the Tour to West Asia.

"I am very happy that it finally materialized. I am sure that the two legs in Doha and Kuwait respectively will raise our sport to an even higher profile all over Asia.

"Being as the official open championship event of Asian Bowling Federation, the Asian ranking point for ABF Tour Legs and Grand Final has been raised start from 2005, please visit ABF website www.abf-online.org for more detail.

The ABF Tour 2005 comprises 8 Legs and a Grand Final. Top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) will be qualified and competed in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

ABF Tour is organized by Asian Bowling Federation in association with Qatar Bowling Federation, Kuwait Bowling Federation, Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress, Thai Tenpin Bowling Congress, Philippine Bowling Congress, Indonesia Bowling Congress, Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress and Singapore Tenpin Bowling Congress.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com) or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com).

Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers' Journal.