SHALIN AND LI JANE MISS OUT ON WORLD TITLE IN LAS VEGAS
Duo finish behind S. Koreans in Las Vegas
PETALING JAYA: Shalin Zulkifli and Sin Li Jane came up just short in their bid to become the first Malaysian world bowling champions in 10 years.
The duo ended up with the silver medal after losing 454-397 to South Korea’s Jung Da-wun-Kim Moon-jeong in the final at the South Point Bowling Centre in Las Vegas, the United States, on Tuesday.
Shalin-Li Jane had earlier reached the topfour medal playoff in top spot by amassing 2,575 pinfalls in the 12-game roll-off, finishing ahead of Americans Kelly Kulick-Danielle McEwan (2,549), Da-wun-Moon-jeong (2,544) and Josie Barnes-Shannon O’Keefe (2,516), also of the United States.
In the semi-finals, top seeds Shalin-Li Jane did well to beat fourth seeds Barnes-O’Keefe 363-334 to set up a title clash against the Koreans, who had ousted defending champions Kulick-McEwan 427-414.
But third seeds Da-wun–Moon-jeong had the last laugh – reclaiming the gold they last won in 2009, also in Las Vegas.
Malaysia last won gold at the world meet in the team event – through Shalin, Esther, Sharon Koh, Wendy Chai, Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi and Choy Poh Lai – in Monterrey, Mexico in 2007.
The silver medal effort from Li Jane-Shalin will surely lift the gloom in the Malaysian camp after the national bowlers had finished empty-handed in the first three events – the men and women’s singles and men’s doubles.
Shalin, who picked up her seventh medal at the world meet, believes that Malaysia have made a statement with their first medal of the campaign.
“There’s more to come from us,” said Shalin, who also won the doubles silver with Sarah Yap in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, back in 1999.
“Our first medal, although not gold, is a timely confidence-booster for the entire team.”
Li Jane was delighted to have delivered the country’s first medal since 2013, when Shalin and her were part of the women’s team who finished third, also in Las Vegas.
“I’m so happy despite missing out on the gold. This is my best finish at the world meet following the team bronze four years ago,” said Li Jane, who’s making her fourth appearance.
“It’s really a good achievement considering we were up against a very competitive field here.
“We did not win anything in 2015 (Abu Dhabi), so this is really a good start. We are just into our second event.”
Malaysia’s Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi-Natasha Roslan (2,446) finished 10th while Esther Cheah-Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman (2,382) ended up 22nd in the 88-pair field.
The men’s doubles gold was clinched by Americans Chris Barnes and Tommy Jones, who beat Hong Kong’s Lau Kwun Ho-Eric Tseng 420-409.
Losing semi-finalists Takuya Miyazawa-Shota Kouki of Japan and Petteri Salonen-Niko Oksanen of Finland shared the bronze.
The tournament resumes with the trios events.