Women still in the chase

WHILE the Malaysian men can forget it, their women counterparts are still pretty much in the fight in bowling’s World Championships in Las Vegas.

In the trios event, both the Malaysian women’s squad were still within touching distance of the semi-finals, following the end of the first block on Wednesday.

But the same, however, cannot be said of the faltering men’s team.

Only the top four squads in each category will play in the semi-finals on Sunday.

At the end of the first three games, Natasha Roslan, Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, were Malaysia’s best trio, occupying sixth place after amassing a total of 1,877 pinfalls.

Teammates Sin Li Jane, Esther Cheah and Shalin Zulkifli were lying in seventh place on 1,869 pinfalls.

Indonesia’s Putty Armein, Sharon Limansantoso and Tannya Roumimper took pole position on 1,963 pinfalls, followed by the United States’ Shannon O’Keefe, Danielle McEwan and Kelly Kulick in second spot on 1,910.

Germany’s Janine Gabel, Tina Hulsch and Patricia Luoto, started the second block in third place on 1,904 while Singapore’s Cherie Tan, Daphne Tan and Shayna Ng were fourth on 1,893.

Team manager Maradona Chok said: “Confidence is still high and team Malaysia are fighters. We will fight till the end.”

In the men’s event, Adrian Ang, Ahmad Muaz Fishol and Timmy Tan were the best Malaysian finishers after the first block in 13th place on 1,857 pinfalls.

Malaysia’s second trio of Rafiq Ismail, Syafiq Ridhwan and Alex Liew, however, only managed 1,750 pinfalls and started the second block in 40th place.

Japan’s Daisuke Yoshida, Shogo Wada and Shusaku Asato were ahead of the pack going into the second block on 2,018 pinfalls.

Since the start of the competition last Friday, Malaysia have bagged a silver medal through Shalin and Li Jane in the women’s doubles event. Fabian Peter