In Malaysian bowling, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree for a number of families. The genes roll on, from parents to children at the alley.
Often, the father-daughter show that strikes the minds of many fans would be national coach Holloway Cheah and Esther Cheah.
And Shalin Zulkifli's father Zulkifli Mohd Ali used to coach her when she was small.
FAMILY ACT
In recent years, another familial duo that have come onto the scene are Tony Lim and Gillian Lim. Tony's daughter, Gillian is talented and proving to be an asset to Malaysian bowling.
Tony was a former Singapore national bowler who later became a coach in Malaysia and Brunei.
Gillian, 21, from Miri, started training under her dad when she was eight years old.
After impressing at youth level on the bowling circuit, Gillian has been earmarked to be a world beater.
Already, she has started to win titles. At last year's Asian Youth Championships in Kuching, Gillian dazzled by sweeping the girls' Masters and doubles gold with Nur Syazwani Sahar.
As a kid, Gillian had her first taste of the sport at the Star Bowl (now known as Megalanes East) in Miri.
At 10, she competed in the Malaysian Schools Sports Council bowling championships in 2009 and represented her home state till 2015.
In 2016, Gillian made her Malaysia Games debut in Sarawak where she won one gold (team) and one silver (Masters).
GOLDEN DEBUT
A student of SMK St Joseph, Gillian hit the headlines when she clinched three gold: singles, doubles and team in her debut at the Asian Schools championships in 2017 in Kuching.
At the 2018 Malaysia Games in Perak, Gillian achieved a golden hat-trick by winning the doubles, mixed doubles and team event.
BROTHERS
Her elder brother, Ervin also shone by bagging four gold medals at the 2016 Malaysia Games, helping Sarawak to emerge as a bowling powerhouse.
After his impressive showing in the 2016 Perak Malaysia Games, Ervin was selected for the national youth team. But not one attracted by the bright city lights of Kuala Lumpur, he decided to remain in Miri to concentrate on studies.
Ervin went on to win the inaugural Brunei International bowling championship in 2012, and also topped the Sports Excel National Junior Circuit Grand Prix finals in 2015.
Gillian also has an older step-brother, Lenny, who represented Singapore for two years (2002/03) and bowled in the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur.
FATHER
Tony, a former air steward, represented Singapore at the US Masters in Reno in 1977, where he was also attached to bowling equipment manufacturer, Brunswick, and during that time he learnt about ball fitting and drilling. He was coached by Carmen Salvino, a Bowling Hall of Fame inductee.
Besides winning the World Airlines Championship in Stockholm, Sweden, as an employee of Singapore Airlines in 1978, Tony also won the Philippines Open in 1979.
Tony was also the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) Director of Coaching from 2008 to 2010, and coached in Sarawak and Brunei.
For the last 10 years, he has been managing a recreational complex in Brunei and he also coaches privately.
"I am proud that bowling, which has been a big part of my life, has rubbed off onto my children, and they have done well.
"Gillian could well be the star of the family," said Tony in a telephone interview from Brunei.
"She is talented and very passionate about bowling. I hope to see her become the third member of the family to compete in a World Championships, after Lenny and me.
"While we did not win a medal at the World Championship, we hope Gillian will. It will be a proud moment for us if she succeeds."
According to Tony, one of his proudest moments to date was when he and his wife, Angeline Wee, watched Ervin and Gillian in action during the Grand Finals of the Masters in the 2016 Malaysia Games in Sarawak.
"It was a big thrill for my wife and me," he recalled.
LOOKING AHEAD
Aiming to continue her momentum, Gillian was looking forward to her next big tournament, the World Youth Championship (WYC) in Lima, Peru (scheduled for Sept 2-7).
But it was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the last WYC in 2018 in Detroit, the United States, Gillian, together with Nur Syazwani Sahar, Nur Ameerahusna Azne and Nur Amirah Auni Azman took the bronze medal. Nur Syazwani won the All-Events gold in the same competition.
The World Tenpin Bowling Congress have proposed that the WYC be held simultaneously with the World Junior Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden on June 26-July 4 next year.
However, Gillian will be overaged by the time of the tournament next year. The WYC is an Under-21 tournament.
If circumstances permit, Gillian will still get to compete. The MTBC have appealed to the world body to use the age limit for this year's postponed WYC for next year.
"I hope I can compete in the WYC but this will depend on whether or not the world body give a positive answer and allow those who were supposed to compete this year to take part next year.
"After all, it was not our fault that the WYC was called off," said Gillian.
"It will be sad if I cannot compete in the world youth. But I will take it in stride and continue working hard to move to the next level," added Gillian who was promoted from youth to the back-up squad, also referred to as the Sea Games 2021 squad.
Holloway said: "That is Gillian. A fighter just like her father Tony who was known for his never-give-up attitude during his playing days."