Old is gold: Alex makes World Cup return after 13 years
PETALING JAYA: Veteran bowler Alex Liew is clearly not past his prime.
The 42-year-old showed again he has plenty left in his tank when he earned his right to represent Malaysia in the national team’s last two major assignments this year – the QubicaAMF World Cup in Las Vegas, the United States, from Nov 4-11 and the Men’s World Championships in Hong Kong from Nov 23-Dec 5.
Alex won the slots after coming out tops in the gruelling two-week 90-game selection roll-off which ended last Friday.
Alex will be making his long-awaited return to the World Cup having made his debut in Slovenia in 2005. Then, he finished 41st.
For the world meet, Alex’s inclusion means he has yet to miss a single edition since debuting in the 2003 Kuala Lumpur meet.
He teamed up with Muhd Nur Aiman Khairuddin to bag the silver in the doubles in Munich 2010 and was part of the side that finished runners-up in the team event in Busan 2006.
The other five in the team for the World Championships are Rafiq Ismail, Adrian Ang, Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, Timmy Tan and Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam.
Alex is all pumped up especially for the World Cup.
“I’m super excited! My initial goal was just to try to make the squad for the World Championships, but I’ve been selected for the World Cup too,” said Alex.
“It’s been 13 years since I last played my last World Cup. I want to do better this time and even try to win it.
“I want to justify my efforts during the roll-off. I came through a tough selection roll-off, the competition was so strong.”
The biggest loser in the roll-off was Ahmad Muaz Fishol, who lost his place to rising star Tun Hakim.
Muaz was part of the trios besides Rafiq and Timmy who won a silver medal at the Asian Games in Palembang two months ago.
Said the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary-general Maradona Chok: “Muaz may be an Asian Games medallist but we selected the team based on the roll-off results. He was struggling with the oil patterns that will be probably used during the world meet.”
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Sin Li Jane is set for her third World Cup appearance after topping the women’s roll-off.
“There’s no world meet for the women’s this year, so the World Cup matters a lot to me,” said Li Jane, who finished fifth and second in two editions held in Poland (2012 and 2014).