Friday, June 12, 2015

It's raining gold at the lanes as Malaysia grab third

From left: Timmy, Muaz and Rafiq are all debutants at the Singapore SEA Games. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star
From left: Timmy, Muaz and Rafiq are all debutants at the Singapore SEA Games. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star

SINGAPORE: Another day, another gold.

Bowling duly delivered again. This time it was Rafiq Ismail, Ahmad Muaz Fishol and Timmy Tan’s turn to take top spot on the podium when they clinched the men’s trios title at the Orchid Bowl in the Orchid Country Club.

The trio, all SEA Games debutants, put in an inspired performance to amass a combined total of 3,701 to win the gold.

Singapore’s Saw brothers, Howard and Keith, along with Javier Tan took silver with 3,656 pinfalls while Ryan Lalisang, Billy Muhammad Islam and Hardy Rachmadian of Indonesia were third with 3,653.

This was Malaysia’s second straight victory in the event following Adrian Ang, Alex Liew and Zulmazran Zulkifli’s success in 2011.

There was no bowling at the 2013 Myanmar Games.

“It’s nice to win my first medal and my first gold in my first SEA Games. There’s a little bit of redemption for Rafiq and me after the frustration in the doubles on Wednesday. I’m very satisfied with the win,” said Muaz.

Timmy chimed in: “I never did well on the long oil pattern, but these guys were great support ... and thanks to the coaches. I’m very happy to win the gold in front of my entire family who came down to Singapore to watch me.”

The trio, who came up through the ranks together and share a close bond, led from start to finish.

But 18-year-old Rafiq admitted he wasn’t expecting a gold in the event, given the medium pattern used for the first three games.

“We have the strongest team at the Games and my target has always been to get the men’s team gold on Friday. So, we’ve got one more job to do.” said Rafiq, who won the men’s singles gold on Tuesday.

Malaysia were unlucky not to add another two medals on Thursday.

Adrian, Alex and Johnathan Chan put up a good fight, and were second after four games, but fell a little off the pace, and finished just 46 pins behind the bronze medallist with 3,607 pinfalls.


From left: Natasha, Siti Safiyah and Syaidatul could only finish fourth in the trios event. 

In the women’s trios, Natasha Roslan, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman and Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi were in contention for a medal early on.

The trio placed second after the first game and were holding on to third for the next three games before slowly tapering off to finish fourth with 3,585.

Esther Cheah, Sin Li Jane and Shalin Zulkifli were ninth with a 3,452 total.

This brings the national bowlers’ total haul to three golds and three bronzes from six events.


The Star Online

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