KUALA LUMPUR — Winning one gold medal is a real challenge, but imagine having to win four.
That was the situation faced by national bowler Rafiq Ismail, who did not expect to clinch five medals at the recent Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in Bangkok.
Though he fell short of his ambitious target of six golds, the 27-year-old still made a significant mark with four gold medals and one silver, leading Malaysia to a historic triumph.
As Asia’s number one bowler, Rafiq knows how tough it is to win just one gold.
But his outstanding performance, which included victories in the men’s singles, men’s trios, men’s All-Events, and men’s Masters categories, contributed to Malaysia’s unprecedented achievement — topping the medal tally with eight golds, five silvers, and four bronzes, a first for any nation.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to defend all four gold medals and one silver from the previous edition because it’s already so tough to win even one gold. But I’m not disappointed at all,” the 27-year-old southpaw reflected on the tournament.
“I’m proud of my teammates, especially the younger ones, for their performances. They inspire me and remind me to stay focused and never get too comfortable.
“We are the best team in the history of the Asian Championships, and I’m happy to be part of that,” Rafiq told Scoop when contacted.
The national squad, featuring other gold medalists like Sin Li Jane, Natasha Roslan, Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, and Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, dominated the championships held at the Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl in Bangkok.
Li Jane, the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Player of the Year, claimed three golds in women’s doubles, women’s All-Events, and women’s Masters, while reigning world champion Natasha secured gold in the women’s doubles.
Tun Hakim, along with Shaqeem Izwan, won men’s doubles, and Syafiq, together with Hafiz Zainuddin, took the gold in men’s trios.
Despite not reaching his six-gold target, Rafiq emphasised the importance of setting high standards as an athlete, even if he does not always meet them.
“As athletes, we must have targets — otherwise, why compete?
“But in this case, I still won four golds, and we delivered our best results ever at the Asian Championships. That’s certainly not a failure,” he added, expressing his determination to continue improving.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh was present at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to welcome the national bowling squad home this evening.
She announced that under the National Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam), all twelve bowlers who competed in Bangkok would be rewarded with a total of RM475,000 for their achievements.
Also in attendance was team manager and Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary-general Maradona Chok, who had returned from Bangkok early to assist with the funeral arrangements for the late Datuk Dr. P. S. Nathan, the founder and former MTBC president, who passed away at the age of 90. — September 26, 2024