Losing by just one pin feels like needle to men’s quartet

PETALING JAYA: A last-game heartbreak saw the Malaysian men’s bowling team lose in the quarter-finals of the IBF World Cup.

Malaysia lost 2-3 to the Philippines in the last eight match-up at the Suncity Tenpin Bowl in Queensland, Australia, yesterday but what made the defeat hard to swallow was that the team lost by just one pin in the deciding game which ended 206-207.

Earlier, the quartet of Rafiq Ismail, Timmy Tan, Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek and Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam lost the first set 209-211 to Merwin Tan, Kenneth Chua, Emerson Gotencio and Jordan Dinham but quickly bounced back to win the next two games 231-207 and 205-171.

The Filipinos charged back, winning the fourth set 219-213 and in the tense final game, Malaysia were narrowly beaten.

The Philippines will take on the United States in the semi-finals tomorrow.

Team manager Maradona Chok said it was a case of hard luck but believed that Timmy, Rafiq and Syafiq would make up for the agonsing team loss by doing well in the singles quarter-finals today.

“Obviously, they are devastated by the loss, especially after their superb outing in the round-robin. But in the knockout stages, there arebound to be upsets, and it happened to us,” said Maradona.

“Our men’s team really gave everything and fought hard in the quarter-finals. But a couple of missed spares cost us the needed deciding point in the last two games.

“We just have to accept the result and move on from it.

“Now the men have to regroup and focus on the singles quarter-finals, which I believe they will give their all. At least one of them will be in the semi-finals, so that’s good.”

In the men’s singles quarter-final today, Rafiq will take on Timmy, while Syafiq will face Germany’s Paul Purps.

In the women’s singles, Natasha Roslan will take on Germany’s Birgit Noreiks.

The final and semi-finals for both these events will also be held on the same day.