KUCHING: Two local lawn bowlers have carved themselves a niche in the history of the sport in the state.Zhoriq Sollehuddeen Zuraidy and Muhd Akhbar Busman defeated 32 pairs of title contenders to become the first Sarawakians to lift the national men’s pairs crown in the Malaysian Singles and Pairs Championship in Klang, Selangor, from January 13 to 16.
It was a fantastic result for national backup player Zhoriq and state coach Akhbar who vanquished former and current national elite national backup players for their historic win.
Only three Kuching players were picked for championship and they were joined by Zhoriq based in Bukit Jalil. The other two players were Mohd Mustaffa Yaakub and Yusuf Amminuddin.
Playing for Sarawak A, Zhoriq and Akhbar edged Terengganu’s national backup pair of Ahmad Faisal Walid and Khairul Anwar Ahmad Kamal 10-9 in the final.
The Sarawakians trounced Kuala Lumpur’s national elite pair of Fairul Izwan Abdul Muin and Fairul Iqwal Abd Muin 13-3 in the quarter-finals to set up a meeting with the national backup pair of Abdul Hakim Afif Abd Rahman and Abdul Syafiq Afif Abdul Rahman of Perlis in the semi-finals. Zhoriq and Akhbar prevailed 9-8.
“It was a tough fight right from start to finish. There were so many former and current national elite and backup players in the competition. We are very happy to be the first to win a national indoor pairs title for Sarawak,” Akhbar said.
He revealed they only expected to reach the last four but when told they had won by a narrow margin, they just could not believe their ears.
“We like to thank Sarawak Lawn Bowls Association president Awang Mahyan Awang Mohamad and his committee, and also our teammates who cheered for us in the final for their strong support,” he said.
The Sarawak B team comprising Mustaffa and Yusuf were beaten 12-11 in the second round by Faisal and Khairul.
In the singles competition, Zhoriq bowed out of the last 16 after losing a sudden death play-off to national elite player Mohd Hizlee Abdul Rais from the police department.
Akhbar also reached the last 16 where he was stopped by another elite player Mohd Amin Yusoff in a sudden death play-off.
Akhbar said the meet was the best exposure for Zhoriq, Mustaffa and Yusuf who are preparing for Sukma XIII.
“Although they did not all win, they had played well against the national players and I’m confident they can do better in Melaka,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mahyan said it was a good start for Sarawak’s lawn bowls to the new year.
“This is the first national pairs trophy we have brought home and I believe this achievement will greatly boost our team’s confidence in Melaka,” he added.
Mahyan hoped the players could win one or two gold medals in the coming Malaysian Indoor Singles and Pairs Under 25 Championship at the Bayuemas Indoor Stadium from February 7 to 12.
He said Sarawak would be sending five boys and five girls from the Sukma XIII team for the championship for the exposure and experience.