Mohd Israt Amiruddin Hj Abdul Ghani (R) and Hj Naim Ibrahim (L) during their men’s pairs semi-final against Hong Kong. Picture: BT/Khaliq Roziman
National lawn bowler Mohd Israt Amiruddin Hj Abdul Ghani in action during yesterday’s 11th Asian Lawn Bowls Championships men’s pairs semi-final against Hong Kong at the Lawn Bowls Arena of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas. Picture: BT/Khaliq Roziman
National lawn bowler Abdul Rahman Hj Omar in action during yesterday’s 11th Asian Lawn Bowls Championships men’s triples semi-final against Malaysia. Picture: BT/Khaliq Roziman
BRUNEI were made to settle for bronze in both the men’s pairs and triples event at the 11th Asian Lawn Bowls Championships after losing their respective semi-finals yesterday.
The duo of Hj Naim Brahim and Mohd Israt Amiruddin Hj Abdul Ghani were in the driving seat most of the way against Hong Kong in the men’s pair event before falling 17-11 at the Lawn Bowls Arena of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
They were leading 11-8 at the 10th end before Hong Kong went on to score nine unanswered points to send the duo to their only loss in six matches. Mohd Israt felt that their opponents simply fared better but was still satisfied with their progress in the event. “At that time we just didn’t have the luck, and their skip also performed really well,” said Mohd Israt in an interview with The Brunei Times after the loss.
“He managed to get our balls which were close (to the marker). He had everything going that resulted in us losing,” he added. “Overall, I’m still proud and satisfied since we were undefeated till today (Tuesday). “Hopefully we can work harder and get a better medal for the country in the fours event,” continued Mohd Israt. Malaysia will face Thailand in the final after they edged Singapore 11-10 in the other match.
On the other hand, the trio of Abdul Rahman Hj Omar, Ampuan Ahad Ampuan Hj Kassim and Pg Hj Tengah Pg Hj Tajuddin were outmatched 16-3 by Malaysia in the men’s triples event. It was a much closer affair in their first meeting on Sunday where the Sultanate were edged 17-15. Ampuan Ahad felt that their opponents were deserved winners. “We were quite equal and lost by two points the last time. But today Malaysia played better than us as they had a game earlier in the morning to get into the semi-finals,” said Ampuan Ahad.
“They already got a good feel of the greens… It is not that we didn’t play well,” he added. “But we have to congratulate Brunei for having their best performance at the event already with four semi-finals appearances so far,” continued Ampuan Ahad. Malaysia will battle India, who edged Macau 14-11, in the title decider.
Brunei also progressed into the semi-finals of the women’s fours and singles events, which will both be contested at 8am today. The team of Hjh Amalia Hj Matali, Nur Uzma Khadijah Ibrahim, Hjh Suhana Hj Md Daud and Hjh Ajijah Muntol advanced into the semi-finals after defeating China 14-9 yesterday morning. They will next face India at 8am today, and Hjh Amalia insisted that the team is pumped up for the encounter. “We have played against them before and lost by two shots (10-8),” said Hjh Amalia.
“We have all been training and playing hard under the sun for the past couple of months, and we must win this game as this is the chance for us to get revenge,” she added. Over in the women’s singles event, Dk Nurul Nabilah Pg Md Salleh Chuchu is also through to the semi-finals and will face against Malaysia. This year’s edition sees a stark improvement for the Sultanate as Abdul Rahman’s bronze medal in 2014 was the country’s only prodium finish at Shenzhen, China.
Meanwhile, Brunei are also set to compete in the World Bowls Championships to be held in New Zealand in November after concluding their Asia Pacific Championships campaign in Christchurch, New Zealand, last month. The team automatically qualified for the World Bowls Championships after finishing in the top eight at the Asia Pacific Championships.
