SAFIYAH FINISHES AS BRIDESMAID AT WORLD CUP
Siti Safiyah falters at World Cup final
PETALING JAYA: The women’s title continues to elude Malaysia at the QubicaAMF World Cup.
Bowler Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman came up short after losing 191-236 to Krizziah Lyn Tabora of the Philippines in the final in Hermosillo, Mexico, on Saturday.
In the one-game final, Safiyah’s failure to convert a spare in the second frame proved costly.
She also found connecting strikes hard to come by.
In contrast, Krizziah had eight strikes, including five in a row, as she went on to become the third Filipina to win the World Cup after Lita de la Rosa (1978) and Bong Coo (1979).
Safiyah was not disheartened despite missing out on an early birthday present. She turns 27 tomorrow.
“It just wasn’t meant to be. I played well. Even the split (in the second frame), I did nothing wrong there. I guess I was just unlucky. Still, a second-place finish is not bad at all,” said Safiyah, whose previous best finish was third in Melaka in 2009.
No Malaysian woman has ever won the title. Shalin Zulkifli was second in Northern Ireland in 1996 and Sin Li Jane also finished second in Poland in 2014.
In the men’s event, Ahmad Muaz Fishol could not emulate Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek’s triumph for Malaysia in Poland in 2012.
The 23-year-old Muaz fin- ished joint third after losing 176266 in the semi-finals to eventual champion Jakob Butturff of the United States.
“I’ll take this result as it’s my first podium finish of the year. It was a debut to cherish as I didn’t think I could make this far after starting the first day in 37th place.”
Safiyah and Muaz will now head to the US to join the national team for the World Championships in Las Vegas from Nov 24-Dec 4.