Roll with the punches: Siti Zalina Ahmad and (below) Emma Firyana Saroji are calmer now.
LAWN bowler Siti Zalina Ahmad admits to feeling some pressure as the defending champions in the women’s pairs event.
However, Siti and partner Emma Firyana Saroji did not show any signs of it as they move into the quarter-finals as Group A leaders on nine points.
On the second day of the pairs event yesterday, they had to endure two tough fights but showed enough tenacity and determination to head into the knockout stage against Northern Ireland today.
In the first game, they faced tough resistance from sisters Rebecca and Connie Rixon of Malta but prevailed 20-16 in 18 ends.
In their next game, Siti-Emma failed to extend their winning ways when they went down to Norfolk Island’s Shae Wilson-Carmen Anderson 17-22 in 18 ends.
“Entering the competition as defending champions, I do not deny there is pressure.
“In terms of chemistry and greens condition, we have no issues. But there are other factors which can affect us and when I’m under pressure, I will discuss with Emma.
“We always manage to find ways to get the best out of any situation before and this time it’s no different. We’ve been in this game long enough to not let pressure get the better of us.”
Meanwhile, in men’s singles, Fairul Izwan Abd Muin also topped Group C with nine points to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Jamie Walker of England and Namibia’s Carel Aron Olivier also had nine points but Fairul had a better score difference.
The 39-year-old got off to a shaky start on the second day of competition when he lost to Olivier 12-21 in 19 ends.
Fairul held a 12-9 lead after 13 ends but fumbled in the next six.
But he bounced back superbly to thrash Walker 21-8 in 17 ends.
