RETURN OF THE DURIAN CHAMP
Bowler Bakri bags George Town Masters
MUHAMMAD Bakri Husain came to Penang recently to rekindle his love with the 8th George Town Durian Masters bowling championships
He had hoped to finish in the top five after winning the title at the Classic Bowl in Bukit Jambul in 2015.
In the preliminary rounds, the 36-year-old Kedahan could only finish third behind two Singaporeans, Paiman Dali and Hairon Awang at the Penang Bowl in George Town.
But in the step-ladder semi-final, the former Kedah state bowler, who trains without a coach, rose to the occasion. He toppled Hairon by nine pins, 200-191.
In the final, Bakri, an adminstrative officer at the Universiti Utara Malaysia, was in a confident mood as he duly beat Paiman 246-239.
Bakri, Paiman and Hairon each received RM7,000, RM4,000 and RM3,000 in cash prize respectively. The top 16 finishers took between RM7,000 and RM400.
Bakri said: “I feel simply awesome and words cannot describe my feelings.
“I did not come to Penang with a target of winning, but it just happened that I won
“I had only hoped to be among the top five, but won. It is still to early to digest the win. It is simply amazing.
“You target to win, but fail. You do not expect to do well, but you win.
"When I was up against the defending champion Hairon, I was a bit jittery but did not lose my focus and rolled confidently and hoped that my lucky stars will pull me through, and I won.
The three-day meet, which was also a sport tourism event, attracted a participation of 68 keglers, with about 50 per cent from Singapore.