KUALA LUMPUR – With two events remaining, the men’s and women’s Masters, Malaysia have been crowned overall champions of the 27th Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in Bangkok, securing six golds, five silvers, and two bronzes – their best performance in the competition to date.
Following Asia’s top bowler Rafiq Ismail claiming the men’s All Events gold earlier today, it was Sin Li Jane’s turn to shine. The Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Player of the Year took the women’s All Events gold at the Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl.
The All Events gold is awarded to the bowlers with the highest total pinfalls after four events (singles, doubles, trios, and the team of five) in both the men’s and women’s categories.
After the four events, Rafiq racked up an impressive 5,354 pinfalls to edge out teammate Hafiz Zainuddin (5,303) for the gold.
In the women’s category, Li Jane amassed 4,974 pinfalls, narrowly beating Singapore’s Daphne Tan (4,906) and Japan’s Yuri Sato (4,876).
Despite their individual successes, both Rafiq and Li Jane, along with their respective teams, had to settle for silver in the men’s and women’s team of five events.
The men’s team, in their bid to defend the gold they won last year, finished with a six-game total of 6,423 pinfalls, just 26 pins behind gold medallists Singapore (6,449). Hong Kong (6,237) took the bronze.
In the women’s team event, Malaysia totalled 6,083 pinfalls, only 17 pins short of South Korea (6,100), who clinched the gold. Japan (5,988) settled for the bronze.
“Li Jane’s All Events gold has secured Team Malaysia the overall title. No other team can surpass our six golds, five silvers, and two bronzes now,” said Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary general Maradona Chok.
He will fly back tonight to attend the funeral of MTBC founder and former president, Datuk Dr P.S. Nathan, who passed away on Sunday.
“Unfortunately, in the women’s team event, it came down to the last frame, and the Koreans just managed to edge us out for the gold.
“This is already our best-ever achievement, with two more events to go: the men’s and women’s Masters,” Maradona added.
Malaysia’s previous best was six golds, one silver, and four bronzes at the 2019 edition in Kuwait. – September 23, 2024