Picture: Courtesy of ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence
National lawn bowler Abd Rahman Hj Omar (pic) ended his World Indoor Singles Championship campaign ninth after a 6-5, 8-5 loss to Australia's Tony Wood yesterday.
Abd Rahman managed to secure two wins out of 10 games in the men's Group 2 during the April 8-16 competition at the Warilla Bowls & Recreation Club in New South Wales, Australia.
The opening day saw him take his first win after edging Turkey's Ozkan Akar 6-6, 7-7, 5-0 followed by his second on day four out after rolling an impressive 14-4, 13-4 against Hong Kong's Chi Leung Fung.
United States Neil Furman topped the group with nine wins and one loss to proceed straight to the semi-finals through a bye.
Men's defending champion, Australia's Jeremy Henry, advanced to the semi-finals through a bye after leading the men's Group 1 by shot difference with eight wins and one loss.
Wood took second ahead of South Africa's Bobby Donnelly in Group 2, both moving into the next round where they faced the men's Group 1 second and third place, Scotland's Stewart Anderson and New Zealand's Shannon Mcllroy.
Mcllroy booked his spot in the semi-finals against Henry after he defeated Anderson 8-7, 2-11, 2-1.
Wood will be taking on Furman after he sealed an 8-2, 8-7 over Donnelly at the Warilla Bowls & Recreation Club in New South Wales.
Fellow national lawn bowler Hjh Amalia Hj Metali ended her journey 11th with three wins to her name in the 12-women Group 1 on Sunday.
Hjh Amalia picked up her first win on the second day when she edged Hong Kong's Thammy Tham 6-9, 8-6, 2-1.
She then out rolled Macao's Nikki Lee 9-3, 8-7 on the fourth day before beating Japan's Hiroko Emura 6-9, 10-8, 3-2 the following day.
The women's semi-finals will see Norfolk Islands Carmen Anderson take on Guernsey's Alison Merrien while Malaysia's Siti Zalina Ahmad goes head-to-head with Scotland's Caroline Brown.
Abd Rahman entered the tournament on the back of a successful outing in Singapore at the 1st Lion City Cup International Lawn Bowls Championship.
Running from March 28-30, Abd Rahman partnered fellow national bowlers Pg Md Salleh Chuchu Pg Hj Tuah and Dk Nurul Nabillah Pg Md Salleh Chuchu to bronze.
"I will try to do my best in the tournament because there will be some very competitive games since most of the countries are sending their best players," said Abd Rahman prior to leaving for Australia.
"Maybe the most challenging opponents are from South Africa, Australia and Ireland because I have played with them before. It will be 50-50 with them, but I'm not too sure about the rest," he added when interviewed by The Brunei Times at the Brunei International Airport.
Also with the duo in Australia are newly appointed national coach Tony Scott and team manager Rosita Hj Mohd Kamis.
