Hong Kong Bowling Open: Malaysia Sweep Men’s, Women’s Titles

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) --  The national bowling camp made a clean sweep of the men’s and women’s titles on the final day of the 49th Hong Kong International Open Bowling Championships on Saturday.

Top seeds Ahmad Muaz Mohd Fishol and Nur Syazwani Sahar rolled to the men’s and women’s titles respectively in the stepladder finals at the SCAA Bowling Centre.

Despite going down in the first game 189-231 to compatriot Muhammad Hafiz Zainuddin, Ahmad Muaz managed to rebound to claim the title 207-199 in sudden death game.

The victory also saw Ahmad Muaz make amends for his runner-up finish in the 2019 edition, when he lost to former world champion and teammate Muhammad Rafiq Ismail.

Meanwhile, Nur Syazwani ended Malaysia’s wait for the women’s title after seeing off Macau’s Wong Son Ian in the stepladder finals.

Nur Syazwani, who fell in the first game, 187-209, turned the tables to take the title in the next game by beating her opponent 223-211.

The last Malaysian bowler to win the women’s title was Esther Cheah, who triumphed in the 2016 edition.

Under the tournament format, should the top seed lose the opening game of the stepladder final, a second game is played as a sudden-death roll-off to determine the champion.

-- BERNAMA