Kuala Lumpur: The saying that ‘A mother’s love lasts forever’ rings true as Anita Mohamed Ali, 62, who is battling pancreatic cancer, finds strength and happiness in the success of her daughter, national bowler Natasha Mohamed Roslan. Natasha is celebrated as the first Malaysian woman to win a title at the International Bowling Federation (IBF) World Cup.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anita expresses immense joy as her daughter, affectionately known as ‘Ata’, ended the country’s 53-year drought in the women’s category at the 2025 IBF World Cup. Anita shared, “As a mother, father, and family, of course, we are very happy. Before she left, her goal was to win, and everyone knows that I’m not in good health but she said she wants to do it for me. Alhamdullilah, she did it and I’m happy for her.”
Anita recounted how Natasha called her recently, encouraging her to stay strong as she aims to achieve more victories. Anita was visibly emotional when she welcomed Natasha home from Kowloon, Hong Kong, and recalled introducing her daughter to bowling at the age of seven, recognizing her talent and potential from an early age.
Despite her health challenges, Anita remains a pillar of support for Natasha, often accompanying her to practice sessions. She shared, “Even now, at 28 years old, I still accompany her to practice sometimes because, as long as they’re your children, you’ll always see them as little kids.”
Anita’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 2022 posed a significant emotional toll, but she encouraged Natasha to continue competing. Anita underwent surgery to remove the tumor and awaits another checkup. She described Natasha as a sweet child who always seeks her family’s blessings before any competition, and emphasized the family’s unwavering support for her endeavors.
Natasha’s triumph at the 2025 IBF World Cup included a gold medal in the women’s event and a silver medal in the women’s team event. Natasha expressed her aspirations for further achievements, aiming to bring more honor to Malaysia. She commented, “Winning titles and making history is important to me because it’s not something easy to do. Creating history is a big win for me, SHAKAM (National Sports Incentive Scheme) is just a bonus.”