PETALING JAYA: Ahmad Muaz Fishol and Nur Syazwani Sahar powered Malaysia to a Hong Kong Open double yesterday, winning the men’s and women’s open titles respectively.
It was an all-Malaysian clash in the men’s event as Muaz defeated compatriot Hafiz Zainuddin in the stepladder finals at the SCAA Bowling Centre.
The 32-year-old Muaz beat his countryman 207-199 in the sudden-death match after Hafiz won the opening game 231-189 to walk away with HK$60,000 (RM31,281) main prize.
Muaz was relieved to get his first title of the year, and first since winning the Malaysia Open in 2019. His recent best result came at the Singapore Open, where he finished third in June.
“I’m really happy because after finishing third in Singapore, it feels good to come back and get another title,” said Muaz.
Muaz entered the stepladder finals as the top seed with 2,071 pinfalls in stage two, while Hafiz finished third with 1,966 pinfalls.
Hafiz defeated home bowlers Tony Wong and Louis Lam in the semi-finals by scoring 268 to Tony’s 242 and Louis’ 245 to set up the clash with Muaz in the final.
Last year’s champion Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam also made the stepladder finals, finishing sixth.
However, he bowed out after he only rolled 169 and came in behind Louis and Hong Kong’s Jovi Ma with 224 in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Syazwani defeated Macau’s Wong Son Ian 223-211 after Son Ian forced the sudden death match by winning the opening game 209-187, to claim the title and HK$32,000 (RM16,683) in prize money.
Syazwani was also the top seed in the stepladder finals after scoring 1,972 pinfalls, while compatriots Natasha Roslan was second with 1,948 and Nur Hazirah Ramli in third with 1,864 pinfalls.
However, Son Ian denied an all-Malaysian meet in the final after she scored 264 in the semi-finals, beating Natasha with 202 and Hazirah with 257.
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