Perfect strike! Muaz ties the knot with former air stewardess
The year 2020, infested by the coronavirus, will be one that national bowler Ahmad Muaz Fishol will remember forever.
While other people’s lives went through a low because of the Covid-19 outbreak, the 28-year-old Muaz is flying high after marrying former air stewardess Errina Nasha Eirwan, 23, last Saturday.
The reigning Malaysian Open champion and threetime SEA Games gold medallist tied the knot with Errina at the Penang State Mosque, followed by a small reception at a hotel attended by 80 guests including teammates Rafiq Ismail and Timmy Tan.
“I got to marry the love of my life, so (2020) it’s not too bad after all, I shall remember always,” said Muaz, who celebrated his birthday yesterday.
“Tomorrow (today) is exactly one year since we first met. We actually wanted to have our wedding today to make it a double celebration as it’s also my birthday. But to do it on weekday is a bit inconvenient.”
Muaz first met Errina, who caught his eye, when he was waiting for his flight home at the Bangkok airport.
Then, Muaz had just competed at the World Bowling Tour (WBT) Thailand, finishing a creditable 18th out of 140 competitors.
“We’re on the same flight bound for KL. She was on duty and served the section where I was seated,” recounted Muaz.
“I couldn’t get my eyes off her the moment I saw her at the departure hall. Even Rafiq was teasing me if I wanted to woo her.
“Initially she was sort of giving me the cold shoulder. But I was determined to get to know her. Through her name tag, I found her on Instagram and followed her. She accepted my request and we started texting each other. The rest is history.”
Despite getting married, Muaz is not taking his career lightly. Instead, he’s seeking inspiration from the union to pursue further excellence.
Muaz, whose achievements include a silver in the trio event at the 2018 Indonesia Asian Games and a bronze at the 2017 World Cup in Mexico, has a positive outlook on his bowling career – as a married man.
“There’s no way I’m going to slow down. I’m gunning for more success and there’s still a lot that I wanted to pursue,” he said.
“This marriage has given me the motivation because I want to make my wife proud. She’s my No. 1 supporter ever since she came into my life.”
The national bowlers will end the year without a single tournament to play after most events have been called off due the Covid-19 pandemic.
If all goes well, their next assignment would most probably be the Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in Hong Kong in January.
But Muaz must first impress the selectors to get into the six-man team.