Farah serves up a stunner with gold in world indoor lawn bowl meet

KUALA LUMPUR: Lawn bowl athlete Nor Farah Ain Abdullah (pic) made Malaysia proud by winning the gold medal at the World Indoor Bowling Championships in Guernsey, Channel Island yesterday.

Farah showed her determination and prowess to be a world champion with an emphatic 6-2, 6-3 victory over Connie Rixon of Malta in the final of the women’s singles event.

The Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) announced the news in the Facebook post.

Canadian Linda Ng and Scotland’s Natalie Mcwilliams shared the bronze medal.

The 23-year-old athlete’s achievement caught the attention of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

“We have a new world champion. Nor Farah Ain Abdullah makes history for the country as the new World Indoor Bowling Champion! Majulah Sukan Untuk Negara!,” said Hannah in a Facebook post.

The team however, could not secure another gold when Izzat Shameer Dzulkepe had to be contented with a silver in the men’s singles event after losing 5-6, 3-9 to the host representative Jason Greenslade in the final.

The men’s singles bronze was won by Harry Goodwin of England and Shannon Mcllroy of New Zealand.

The national camp also brought home a bronze medal through the pair of Izzat Shameer-farah Ain in the mixed doubles event, allowing Malaysia to emerge as the overall champion followed by Australia (second) and Guernsey third who each won one gold.

Meanwhile, MLBF president Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz in a statement yesterday described the achievement as historic for the national lawn bowl squad.

“It’s indeed a very meaningful moment for the lawn bowl fraternity in Malaysia. It’s really hard work and concerted efforts that they put in place,” said Awalan.

“Not only the athletes and coaches who were once again needed to train during Ramadan, they also had to endure only a brief Raya celebration as they needed to leave for Guernsey on the first week of Raya,” he said.

Awalan added the accomplishment also exhibited the national lawn bowl athletes’ great potential especially among young players.

In March, the national team also made the country proud by bagging three gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the Asian Lawn Bowls Championship held in Pattaya, Bangkok. —