Sports

Tuesday July 21, 2009

Adrian and Zatil finish third in mixed doubles event

By RAJES PAUL

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s youngest men’s elite bowler Adrian Ang bagged the bronze medal in the mixed doubles event in a star-studded field at the World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, yesterday.

It was the biggest win in the 21-year-old’s career.

Adrian combined well with Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani to make the cut as the third and last qualifiers for the step-ladder finals.

Winners all of them: Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani (right), Adrian Ang and the other medallists showing off their medals after Monday’s prize presentation for the mixed doubles event.

But they found South Koreans Kong Byoung-hee-Gye Min-young too hot to handle, going down 391-421 in the first match decided over one game.

Adrian rolled down 197 and Zatil amassed 194. The Koreans, however, blazed the lanes with Byoung-hee’s 215 and Min-young’s 206.

The Koreans then beat Colom­bians Manuel Otalora-Anggie Rami­rez 840-710 in a two-game battle for the gold medal.

In the qualifying round, debutants Adrian-Zatil did well to finish third – with a combined score of 2,576 pinfalls over six games – against a world class field that included professionals Chris Barnes-Stephanie Nation of the United States, Fin­­land’s Osku Palermaa-Krista Pollanes, England’s Darren Cundy-Zara Glover and Singapore’s Remy Ong-Jennifer Tan.

Four years ago, Zulmazran Zul­kifli-Shalin Zulkifli bagged a silver medal in Duisburg, Germany, while Daniel Lim-Sharon Low emerged as champions in 1997 in Lahti, Finland.

Adrian, who turned 21 on Thurs­day, said he was a nervous wreck in the opening game.

“I was a little tense in the beginning but once we started to bowl well, we began to enjoy ourselves,” said the two-time national champion Adrian, whose most memorable moment came in the sixth and deciding game – when they bowled alongside the American pros.

“We managed a total of 459 pins when we were bowling side-by-side with the top American pros.”

For Zatil, the bronze medal certainly makes up for the disappointment of not being selected for the women’s world championships, which will be held in Las Vegas from Saturday.

“I had a first frame split in the opening game and that put me off a little.

“Luckily I settled down quickly,” said a delighted Zatil.

“I must thank Adrian for bowling well and covering for me throughout the tournament.”

Today, both will be in action in the first block of the men’s and women’s singles events.

Mixed doubles results

Qualifying round

1. Manuel Otalora-Anggie Ramirez (Col) 2605, 2. Kong Byoung-hee-Gye Min-young (Kor) 2588, 3. Adrian Ang-Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani (Mas) 2576, 4. Alejandro Cruz-Sandra Gongora (Mex) 2534, 5. Osku Palermaa-Krista Polla­­nen (Fin) 2518, 6.. Chester King-Liza Del Rosario (Phi) 2480, 7. Chris Barnes-Stephanie Nation (US) 2454, 8. Darren Cundy-Zara Glover (Eng) 2446, 9. Remy Ong-Jennifer Tan (Sin) 2445, 10. Wu Siu Hong-Chan Shuk Han (Hkg) 2429.

Step-ladder finals

First match: Kong Byoung-hee-Gye Min-young (Kor) bt Adrian Ang-Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani (Mas) 421-391.

Final: Byoung-hee-Min-young bt Manuel Otalora-Anggie Ramirez (Col) 840-710.

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