Li Jane’s double dream dashed
SIN Li Jane’s hopes of becoming the first Malaysian to win two Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour titles were dashed on Tuesday when she finished runnerup in the USBC Queens in Wichita, Kansas.
In the final match of the stepladder finals at the Northrock Lanes, Li Jane, the second seed, was edged 226-216 by Ukraine's Dasha Kovalova.
The Malaysian earned a crack at the title by overcoming third seed Clara Guerrero of Colombia 267-224 in the second match of the championship round.
Kovalova pocketed US$20,000 (RM83,700) for her success while Li Jane took home US$11,000 (RM46,000).
Li Jane, who won the Lincoln Open in 2017, however, is still proud of her achievement.
"I am a little disappointed, but I did everything I could and I am still proud of my achievement.
"It's not easy to finish on the podium all the time. I have been producing top three finishes consistently.
"I will bounce back stronger," said Li Jane, who came in third in the recent Malaysia Open.
The USBC Queens is Li Jane's third runner-up finish on the PWBA Tour after coming in second at the 2016 Greater Detroit Open and the 2017 Wichita Open, which she lost to compatriot Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman.
Li Jane and Siti Safiyah are the only two Malaysians to have won on the prestigious tour so far.
Compatriots Esther Cheah and Shalin Zulkifli finished 11th and 14th respectively in Kansas.
The promising performances of the bowler bode well for the national squad ahead of the World Women's Championships in Las Vegas (Aug 22-30).