Malaysia look good for two gold medals

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have qualified to play in two finals in the fourth Asian Lawn Bowls championships at the National Lawn Bowls Complex in Bukit Kiara here today. 

The men’s and women’s pairs look set to grab gold medals after having given consistent performances to stay undefeated in the group competitions. 

But it was the end of the road for the Malaysian men’s and women’s triples players, who were reduced to picking up the bronze after finishing as group runners-up. 

In the men’s pairs final, Fairul Izwan Muin-Safuan Said will take on Leoncio Carreon-Chris Dagpin of the Philippines. The Malaysian pair made it to the final with wins over Brunei (31-11), Singapore (19-12), India (28-10) and South Korea (30-9). 

The Malaysian women’s pair of Bah Chui Mei-Nor Hashimah Ismail will play against Thailand’s Vivatana Vudhapirom-Rosrin Sornami. Chu Mei-Nor Hashimah advanced to the final with wins over the Philippines (26-3), Brunei (18-13) and Japan (31-5). 

In the triples event, Brunei and Hong Kong will play in the men’s final while Hong Kong and Thailand will contest for the women’s gold medal. 

Meanwhile, there wasn’t much joy for Malaysia in the Under-25 singles event with Azwan Shuhaimi picking up the only win in the men’s opening round yesterday. 

Azwan defeated Edmund Lin Jin Sheng of Singapore 21-6. The other Malaysian players – Khairil Faezzi Aziz, Mohd Amir Yusof and Salahuddin Razali – ended up as losers. 

The Malaysian women’s singles players had a better start. All won their opening round games. 

Nor Shafeeqah Yahya defeated Amy Gardoce of the Philippines 21-13; Emma Firyana Saroji beat Tiffany Law of Hong Kong 21-18; while Noor Saliza Rahaman scored a 21-17 win over Candy Lai of Singapore.