Hairul’s one of a kind
Malaysian dominates to clinch mixed singles TPB1 gold
BOWLER Muhd Hairul Miran showed that he is in a class of his own as he blew his rivals away to clinch the mixed singles TPB1 (completely blind) gold at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games.
The para bowlers use just a guide rail to assist them in their movement at the alley.
The 40-year-old Hairul fired a brilliant opening 208 before adding 113, 158, 163, 143 and 134 for a six-game total of 919 pinfalls to win by whopping 202 pins at the Sunway Mega Lanes yesterday.
Thailand’s V. Tangpoolpun (717) and Krisada Kietkongtawee (686) finished second and third.
It was Hairul’s second Asean Para Games gold, having also won the trios with Choo Kam Chan and Zainul Akmal Siran in Singapore two years ago.
“I’m very satisfied! That was the best performance of my career because never once had I been able to surpass the 900-mark,” said a jubilant Hairul.
“It was the thunderous cheers from the crowd that spurred me on, especially knowing that I was competing in the presence of my wife (Syahidah Abdul Wahid) and coaches Steven (Teng) and Richard (Teh).
“Really happy to win an individual gold. In Singapore, I only managed a bronze.”
Hairul lost his vision in 2002 when some alkaline solution got into his eyes at the rubber glove factory he was working in.
“Not only did I lose my sight, I also lost direction in life,” he recalled.
“But things changed for the better after I joined the Malaysian Association for the Blind. It led to me getting involved in sports competitively. Soon I started my career in para javelin and made my Asean Para Games debut in Vietnam (2003).
“Things have gone well since then. I married my childhood sweetheart in 2006 and we have been blessed with three beautiful kids.”
Hairul managed to win the silver in the javelin at the KL Games in 2009 before switching to bowling a year later.
“I decided to give bowling a shot due to my age and also since I was no longer able to compete against younger rivals in javelin. It turned out to be a wise choice,” he said.
Hairul now hopes to win more golds when the competition continues with the doubles and trios.
Malaysia also got their 13-gold pursuit off to a fine start through Muhd Suhaili Abdul Hamid and Noor Lizah Salman in the mixed TPB2 (partially blind) and women’s TPB8 (wheelchair).
Suhaili lived up to his billing as the World Championships runner-up in Fukuoka, Japan, in July to take gold with a 1,258 total, finishing 72 pins ahead of Brunei’s Kamarul Ariffin. Defending champion Choo Kam Chan of Malaysia settled for the bronze with 1,104.
Noor Lizah won her first gold after four appearances by scoring an 824 total.
Ruzila Mustafa completed a grand 1-2 finish for Malaysia by finishing with 804 pinfalls.
“Finally, I’ve won one, thanks to the event being held separately this time (due to having enough entries).
“Previously, I had to go up against the men in the mixed event and even with a 10-pin handicap per game, it wasn’t easy to beat the men,” said the mother of two.