Close but not enough as Adania-Hazirah settle for bronze

BANGKOK: It was so close yet so far.

Yesterday, debutants Adania Mohd Redzwan-Nur Hazirah Ramli ensured Malaysia still had a reason to celebrate by claiming the bronze medal in the women’s doubles bowling event at the Blu-O Rhythm and Bowl in Ratchayothin.

The Malaysian duo fought hard but were denied a spot in the final by eventual champions Arianne Tay-Charmaine Chang of Singapore after going down 428-432 in the last four.

The narrow four-pin defeat left Adania-Hazirah with mixed feelings in their maiden biennial games appearance.

“I am grateful to have won the bronze medal, but I know I could have done better,” said Hazirah.

“It feels bittersweet because I am frustrated that we could not achieve a better colour than bronze as we had the opportunity to seal the victory in the last frame.

“I will take this as a lesson and improve my mindset so that I can be mentally stronger and perform better in future competitions.”

Adania-Hazirah showed great chemistry as they finished second in the qualifying round with 2,451 pins, earning a spot in the quarter-finals.

They then outplayed the Philippines’ pair, Dyan Arcel Coronacion and Rachelle Leon, 417-360 to advance to the last four.

The bronze medal served as a form of redemption for Adania.

“I am proud of the bronze medal,” said Adania.

“It was disappointing to lose in the singles quarter-finals (on Monday) because I know I could have done better, but winning a medal in the doubles lifted my spirits.

The bronze medal marked Malaysia’s fifth medal in the biennial games, following Mohd Syazirol Shamsudin’s bronze in the men’s singles, Natasha Roslan’s silver (women’s singles), Rafiq Ismail and Syazirol’s gold (men’s doubles), and Tsen Fan Yew and Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam’s bronze (men’s doubles).

Meanwhile, another Malaysian pair Natasha-Sin Li Jane bowed out in the quarter-finals after a narrow five-pin 458-467 loss to Arianne-Charmaine.

All four bowlers – Adania, Hazirah, Natasha, and Li Jane – will now turn their focus to the women’s team event today.

RESULTS

(Malaysians unless stated)

Women’s doubles

Qualifying round: 1. Nur Irdina Hazly-Colleen Pee (Sin) 2,485, 2. Adania Mohd Redzwan-Nur Hazirah Ramli 2,451, 3. Arianne Tay-Charmaine Chang (Sin) 2,432. Selected: 6. Natasha Roslan-Sin Li Jane 2,420.

Quarter-finals: Sharon Adelina Limansantoso-Aldila Indryati (Ina) bt Irdina-Colleen (Sin) 425-379, Adania-Hazirah bt Dyan Arcel Coronacion-Rachelle Leon (Phi) 417-360, Arianne-Charmaine (Sin) bt Natasha-Li Jane 467-458, Alisha Nabila Larasati-Putty Insavilla Armein (Ina) bt Jelena Grace Gella-Marian Lara Posadas (Phi) 373-364.

Semi-finals: Alisha-Putty (Ina) bt Sharon-Aldila (Ina) 388-353, Arianne-Charmaine (Sin) bt Adania-Hazirah 432-428.

Final: Arianne-Charmaine (Sin) bt Alisha-Putty (Ina) 379-353.