PETALING JAYA: It was a double joy for Malaysia at the European Bowling Tour (EBT) Masters in Madrid, Spain on Thursday (July 4) with Rafiq Ismail and Sin Li Jane emerging triumphant.
Rafiq, 21, picked up his first EBT crown when he topped the men's contest after amassing 2,751 pinfalls over 12 games, just 10 pins ahead of his closest rival Kyle Troup of United States.
Last year's winner champion Jesper Svensson of Sweden came in third with a 2,717 total.
It was Rafiq's second victory in as many tournaments after he clinched the Singapore Open last Sunday (June 30).
As for Li Jane, the 27-year-old reclaimed the EBT Masters title she last won three years ago in San Marino for her fourth EBT victory.
Her other two titles came at the 2016 Track Open in Germany and Brunswick Ballmaster Open in Finland last year.
Li Jane was in a class on her own as she chalked up 2,603 pinfalls to run away with the win.
Denmark's Mai Ginge Jensen, the 2014 winner, finished a distant second on 2,339 and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman completed a stylish 1-3 finish for Malaysia by claiming bronze with a 2,248 total.
With their respective victories, Rafiq and Jane can now be regarded as the EBT No. 1 of 2018.
The prestigious one-day tournament served as a season-ending event for 2018 season, inviting only the top eight-ranked men and women in last season's EBT point standings.
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