MUHAMMAD RAFIQ CONTINUES TO SHINE AT INTER-STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

PETALING JAYA, July 30 (Bernama) -- National kegler, Muhammad Rafiq Ismail continued his outstanding performance when he claimed his second gold medal at the 32nd Inter-State Bowling Championships at Sunway Mega Lanes, Bandar Sunway, here today.

After emerging victorious in the men's singles event yesterday, the 22-year-old partnered Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek in the men's doubles event to knock down 2,687 pinfalls overall to clinch another gold medal.

Selangor pair, Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam and Ahmad Muaz Mohd Fisol took the silver with 2,553 pinfalls while Sarawak's Brandon Ting and Chong Jun Foo settled for bronze (2,510 pinfalls).

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Commenting on today's performance, the reigning world champion,  who was representing Kuala Lumpur, thanked his partner, Syafiq Ridhwan for helping him to regain his best 'touch'.

Muhammad Rafiq started off slow in the first two games, knocking down 166 and 157 pins respectively but surged to the top of the leaderboard when he managed to bowl an almost perfect game by scoring 297 pins in the fifth game.

He hopes to continue his formidable performance and be able to claim back the national title at the 43rd National Bowling Championships at the same venue this weekend, as well as hoping that he will be selected for the 2019 SEA Games.

He last won the national title in 2015 and 2016.

On the final day of the Inter-State Championships tomorrow, Muhammad Rafiq will team up with Shafiq Ridhwan, Timmy Tan and Muhammad Hafiz Zainuddin in the men's team event.

For the record, after the first six months without a title, Muhammad Rafiq ended his championship title drought starting with the Singapore Open at the end of June and was followed by the European Bowling Tour (EBT) Masters in Madrid, Hong Kong Open and the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) Tour Hong Kong leg.

-- BERNAMA