Roaring back to top

Simply sensational: Rafiq Ismail posing with the trophies after clinching the Singapore Open crown at the Singapore Bowling Centre in Rifle Range yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: National bowler Rafiq Ismail has finally broken free from the shackles of near-misses.

After enduring heartbreak in three previous finals, the 28-year-old Rafiq ended his title drought by clinching the Singapore Open crown but not after some tense moments at the Singapore Bowling Centre in Rifle Range yesterday.

It was so close but Rafiq held his nerves to edge compatriot Megat Zaqrul Haiqal Megat Zairudin 193-190 in a nerve-wracking stepladder final.

Rafiq was happy to get the monkey off his back this season.

“I’ve had my share of final defeats at the National Championship, the World Cup in Hong Kong, and the Scorpion Open at the PBA World Series of Bowling earlier this year. All those losses however, lit a fire in me,” said Rafiq.

“Stepladder finals are ruthless, there’s no room for error. I focused on composure, made every frame count, and this time, the title came home.”

This win marked Rafiq’s third Singapore Open title, having also lifted the trophy in 2017 and 2019 – but this one, he admitted, was extra sweet.

“It’s been six years since my last win here, and to break the final curse after months of frustration, it means everything.

“I knew I had it in me. Even in the second round, when I finished second, I stayed positive. That mindset made the difference.”

Rafiq had been in dominant form throughout the tournament when he towered above the rest during the qualifying round after knocking down 4,350 pins, a staggering 281-pin lead over Australian Bernie Grueso Jr at the second spot.

Rafiq finished second with 1,457 pins in the second round to book a spot in the stepladder finals, while Zaqrul had earned direct passage to the stepladder final as the top seed with 1,490.

In the knockout round, Rafiq defeated Syazirol Syamsuddin 279-222 to set up match against Zaqrul.

Syazirol had earlier knocked out Singapore’s Nigel Fernandez 289-216 in the first stepladder clash.

Rafiq is now setting his sights on the Hong Kong Open end of this month.

RESULTS

Stepladder finals

First round: Syazirol Syamsuddin (Mas) bt Nigel Fernandez (Sin) 289-216.

Second round: Rafiq Ismail (Mas) bt Syazirol 279-222.

Final: Rafiq by Megat Zaqrul Haiqal Megat Zairudin (Mas) 193-190.