PAIRED WITH A LEGEND
Rookie Auni thrilled to bowl alongside the great Siti
REPORTS BY DEVINDER SINGH devinder@nst.com.my since 1999.
That responsibility now falls on the shoulders of the experienced Siti Zalina and rookie Auni, who expects to face stiff competition from the Philippines.
"Being partnered with someone who has achieved so much success and with so much experience can be intimidating but I have also learned a lot playing alongside Siti Zalina," said Auni, Auni Fathiah Khamis (left) and Amir Yusof will lead Malaysia’s charge for gold at the Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur next month.
26, who won pairs gold with Siti Zalina at the recent pre-Sea Games meet in Bukit Kiara.
"We have been paired since 2015 and our partnership is working well. We have even beaten the Philippines and we are confident of defending the pairs’ gold medal."
Siti Zalina's only Sea Games gold medal came in the pairs event in 1999 in Bandar Sri Begawan alongside Nor Hashimah
Ismail before enduring disappointment in the singles in her next three appearances at the Games.
Now reverting to the pairs, Siti Zalina will be hoping to strike gold again after 18 years with Auni as her partner.
Sarimah Abu Bakar and Nor Hashimah retained the pairs' gold in Kuala Lumpur in 2001 before Ban Chui Mei and Haslah Hassan claimed the title in Manila
in 2005.
At the next edition in Bangkok in 2007, it was the turn of Emma Firyana Saroji and Azlina Arshad to come out tops in the event.
Although not able to rival Siti Zalina's achievements, Auni has made a measure of success too.
She won a bronze in the women's fours at the 2012 World Bowls Championships and gold in the women's triples at the 2016 Asian Championships.