Adrian captures second win in three months

PETALING JAYA: National bowler Adrian Ang has clinched his second victory in three months – bagging the Sarawak Open at the Megalanes Sarawak in Batu Kawah, Kuching.

He beat national youth player Hafiz Zainuddin 224-222 in the final yesterday for the RM18,000 top prize – the most lucrative winner’s purse offered in the local meet to date this year.

Adrian had ended his four-year drought by clinching the Macau leg of the Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) Tour in June.

He then did well to claim two silver medals in singles and doubles (with Rafiq Ismail) at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last month. Adrian was quick to dedicate his latest victory to his wife Ng Shin Yii, a former national wushu exponent, and their one-month old daughter Aurelea.

“They are my lucky charm. Things have really gotten better from the day we were expecting Aurelea until the day she was born (July 24). I’m truly blessed to have them in my life,” he said.

Adrian’s path to victory was made easy after he claimed the top seeding for the stepladder finals by coming out tops in the 40-bowler mixed-field contest earlier in the day with an eight-game total of 1,912 pinfalls.

Hafiz, who qualified in fourth spot with 1,830 total, had to work his way up to earn a

title shot against Adrian.

The 17-year-old pulled off a stunning upset in quarter-finals when he posted a 210 to beat KL Games triple gold medallist Rafiq Ismail (172) and Ahmad Aidil Abdul Halim (190) in the one-game roll-off. He then rolled 205 pinfalls to overcome two national teammates – Chong Jun Foo (178) and Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam (192) in the semi-finals.