Brunei’s men’s four team of Mohd Israt Amiruddin Hj Abd Ghani, Pg Hj Md Salleh Chuchu, Mohd Ali Hj Bujang and Mohd Huzaimi Mohd Salleh after their match at the Lawn Bowls Arena of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas yesterday. Picture: BT/Azri Metussin
BRUNEI progressed into the playoff round of the men’s single and four events at the 11th Asian Lawn Bowls Championships yesterday.
Senior national lawn bowler Abd Rahman Hj Omar was placed second in the group behind Singapore after he suffered a defeat in the men’s single event to Thailand’s Chaithai Kanchanakaphan 21-18 at the Lawn Bowls Arena of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas yesterday.
Abd Rahman said that he was satisfied with his game although he lost the final group match. “It was a tough battle today but despite the loss, I think I did well in the match,” said Abd Rahman in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
“During the final few sets of the game, I improved my game and I almost managed to catch up. “However, I think I made a vital mistake in the last round, as I chose the wrong side for me to play, and I believed that has cost me the game,” he added.
The veteran will play against the defending champion from Hong Kong in the playoffs round today at 8am, and the 2014’s bronze medalist said he is determined to win the game. “I will play my finest game and hopefully I can win the semi-final as well,” he said. “My aim remains the same and that is to reach the final,” he continued.
Meanwhile in the men’s fours event, the team made up of Pg Hj Md Salleh Chuchu, Mohd Huzaimi Mohd Salleh, Mohd Israt Amiruddin Hj Abd Ghani and Mohd Ali Hj Bujang will also play against Hong Kong in the play offs at the same time today after they notched up a resounding win over Sri Lanka 32-5.
Yesterday’s win placed them second in their group despite sharing the same amount of wins with topper of the group Malaysia with three wins, but Malaysia still hold the advantage as they have a bigger short margin with 66 while Brunei have only 44 points. “We haven’t played with Hong Kong before this and based on their records, they can be considered as a very strong team,” said Pg Hj Md Salleh after their match yesterday.
“But I believe it’s a 50-50 match, so we will do our best and hope that luck will be on our side as well. As for the women’s team event, both of the sultanate’s women’s teams missed their chance to progress into the semi-final after losing their playoffs game yesterday. The duo of Dk Nurul Nabilah Pg Hj Mohd Salleh and Esmawandy Ibrahim were beaten by Singapore 20-16, whereas Brunei’s female trio comprised of Hjh Amalia Hj Matali, Suhana Hj Md Daud and Hjh Ajijah Muntol lost to Thailand 20-16.
Nevertheless, Brunei do have something to cheer about when the mixed pairs duo of Mohd Waie Badi’uzzaman Ahmad and Nur Hafizah Matossen clinched a bronze in the 9th Asian Under-25 Singles Lawn Bowls Championships. The men’s single and four events will start at 8am and the semi-final will take place at 1pm while the women’s pair and triples will be at 10.30am.
