National keglers win gold, silver in team event

MANILA, Dec 6 -- The men’s bowling squad wrested the SEA Games team event gold from Singapore at Coronado Lanes, Starmall EDSA today, while their female counterparts failed to defend the title after finishing second.

The men's team -- consisting of 2018 World Champion Muhammad Rafiq Ismail, Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, Timmy Tan and Ahmad Muaz Fishol -- fought back from an almost 100 pin deficit in the first bloc to clinch the gold with 4,980 pinfalls in total. 

The Philippines’ line-up of Kenneth Chua, Patrick Nuqui Neil, Frederick Ong and Merwin Tan bagged silver with 4,937 pinfalls, while Thailand retained its bronze medal when Atchariya Cheng, Surasak Manuwong, Annop Arromsaranon and Yannaphon Larp-apharat brought down 4,896 pins.

After Malaysia won the team title in the 2015 Singapore Games, the island republic took revenge and claimed the title at the 2017 KL Games, however the boys managed to wrest the title back on neutral ground.

Speaking to the press after the medal presentation ceremony, the keglers said good team communication and brotherly chemistry were key to their success.

“These last four days have been up and downs, but my teammates were together with me to achieve this feat. Though we were down, they still had the spirit to fight till the end,” said Muhammad Rafiq, who will be defending his masters event title tomorrow and Sunday (Dec 8).

“Tomorrow is another day, everyone has a chance to grab the medal masters, but I hope I will be able to defend the gold. I’ll be keeping a close eye on the competition, including my teammates,” he added.

Meanwhile, the opposite happened in the women’s category as the girls failed to retain their title after having won the gold at the SEA Games 2015 and 2017 (team of five).

The strong line-up of veteran Shalin Zulkifli, Esther Cheah, Sin Li Jane and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman bagged the silver with 4,803 pinfalls.

The 2011 champions, Singapore – consisting of Daphne Tan Shi Jing, New Hui Fen, Ng Lin Zhi Shayna and Cherie Tan Shi Hua -- took the gold after amassing 4,833 pinfalls, while the host team of Liza Del Rosario, Lara Posadas-Wong, Bea Katrina Hernandez and Marie Alexis Sy finished third with 4,735 pinfalls.

Only the top 16 bowlers from the men’s and women’s category in all events (singles, doubles and team) will advance to the masters event, and all eight (four men and four women) national keglers have made the cut.

Malaysia needs to win both the men’s and women’s masters event to achieve the four-gold target after having won the men’s singles gold medal on the first day of competition on Tuesday (Dec 3).

-- BERNAMA