INCHEON: The pressure is slowly mounting on Malaysia to achieve the eight-gold target at the Incheon Asian Games.
After six days of competition, Malaysia have only two golds to show for.
Yesterday, the men bowlers failed to defend their doubles gold medal won in Guangzhou in 2010.
All the three pairs struggled at the Anyang Hogye Gymnasium, with lefties Alex Liew and Rafiq Ismail getting the best result with a ninth-placed finish with a 2,414 total.
Adrian Ang-Timmy Tan finished 19th (2,345 pins) while Syafiq Ridhwan-Zulmazran Zulkifli took 23rd spot (2,324 pins).
Yoshinao Masatoki-Toshihiko Takahashi led Japan to a 1-2 sweep, chalking up 2,533 pins to finish 31 pins ahead of Tomoyuki Sasaki-Yoshida Daisuke.
Indonesia’s Rachmadian Hardy-Muhd Islam Billy took the bronze with a 2,489 total.
Bad news then filtered in as the bowlers were packing up to leave the arena. Cyclist Azizulhasni Awang also failed to retain the keirin gold he won in 2010.
A weary-looking coach Holloway Cheah admitted that the bowlers are now under tremendous pressure after going through three events (men’s singles and doubles and women’s singles) without any success.
Bowling has delivered at least two golds for Malaysia at the last three Asia Games. In Guangzhou, Alex partnered Adrian to win the men’s doubles. He also clinched the All-Events title.
“We are trying our best to fight for the gold medals but the competition is very tough. Even hosts South Korea are struggling and only have one bronze to show (from Lee Na-young in the women’s singles). You think they don’t want to win on their own turf?” said the 72-year-old Holloway.
“Today is a bad day for us but we have to forget it and focus on the remaining events. I have faith in my bowlers and I believe they can achieve something in the coming days.
“We will have a team discussion after this and we will work on the shortcomings.”
Malaysia’s search for their first bowling medal here continues in the women’s doubles today with veteran Shalin Zulkifli-Sin Li Jane rolling off in Squad A in the morning.
The afternoon session will see Syaidatul Afifah combining with 2006 Doha Asiad singles gold medallist Esther Cheah and Siti Safiyah Amirah partnering Hee Kar Yen.
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