Dad’s my lucky charm

Muaz wins Open title as birthday present for daddy

Ahmad Muaz Fishol blazed the lanes to walk away with the men’s Open title at the Malaysian Open yesterday, and dedicated it to his father Mohd Fishol Azizan, who turned 56 on Friday. He coolly beat Australian Sam Cooley 219-193 in the sudden-death round to go home RM50,000 richer.

SUBANG JAYA: Call it coincidence but bowler Ahmad Muaz Fishol seemed to have good luck on his parents’ birthdays.

The 26-year-old claimed his first title in nearly three years when he won the men’s Open at the Malaysian Open yesterday.

And he duly dedicated the victory to his father Mohd Fishol Azizan, who turned 56 on Friday.

Muaz’s last triumph came at the Indonesian Open in 2016. And he won it just three days after his mother, Fadzilah Che Ani, celebrated her 51st birthday.

Muaz yesterday bounced back from an opening game loss to beat last year’s World Cup winner Sam Cooley of Australia in the title clash at the Sunway Mega Lanes.

Played in the 1+1 format, Cooley needed to win two games to secure victory. He won the first 233-214 but could not stop Muaz from winning the sudden-death round 219-193.

Muaz not only claimed a maiden Malaysian Open crown, he also took home RM50,000, the biggest winner’s purse in the tournament’s history.

“I didn’t expect to win to be honest. My form in training has been poor. I think I must thank my parents because I’ve been extra lucky on their birthdays,” quipped Muaz.

“But I’m really happy to be winning again. It’s been three years since Indonesia.

“I cherish this victory more than the previous two (including the 2014 PBAP-Mevida in the Philippines), considering the quality of the field I have to beat.”

With money in the bag, Muaz can now breathe easy as he has enough fund for his pro stint in the United States in August.

“I’ve been looking for sponsors for my PBA Tour trip, now it’s pretty sorted!”

Defending champion Rafiq Ismail finished 20th while first round pace-setter Alex Liew settled for seventh spot.

In women’s Open, Sin Li Jane fell short of making it a grand double.

Li Jane, the sole Malaysian to make the top three cut for the stepladder finals, lost 202-255 to South

Korea’s Sung Gyong-eun semi-final.

“I’m not disheartened. A third place is still a very good finish and it’s also my third podium in the

tournament,” said Li Jane who was runner-up in 2012.

Singapore’s Charlene Lim defeated Gyong-eun 191-166 in the final to walk away with RM20,000.

— AFP High flyer: Canada’s Mark Pearson (left) and Malaysia’s Muhd Marhan Mohd Jalil fighting for the ball during the final yesterday.

— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star All together now: Canada team celebrating their victory after beating Malaysia 3-2 in the final of the FIH Series Finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Happy birthday father: Ahmad Muaz Fishol posing with his trophies after winning the men’s title at the Malaysian Open yesterday. He dedicated his victory to his dad Mohd Fishol Azizan who turned 56 on Friday.