DEAFLYMPICS: Malaysian bowlers may return empty handed

From: New Straits Times, Malaysia - Jan 14, 2005

By Tony Mariadass

Jan 14:

THE Malaysian bowling team for the Deaflympics Games here in Melbourne could well return empty handed when the bowling competition ends with the Masters final tomorrow at the AMF Sunshine Bowling Centre.

Yesterday at the completion of the five-man team event, the Malaysian team maintained their overnight 14th spot to end their campaign at the completion of the second block of three games.

Zaidi Awang maintained his overnight fifth spot in the All-Events to miss a medal but qualify for the Masters today.

Whether, Zaidi, who was in third spot on Tuesday after the completion of the trios event, will make the top three in the Masters round-robin matches among the top 16 to qualify for the step-ladder finals is left to be seen.

He has a tall order and is the team's last hope of a medal.

Yesterday, it was Taiwan who picked up their second gold medal in the five-man team after their first in the trios on Tuesday.

Taiwan also picked up another gold medal through the women's team yesterday.

The men's team of Taiwan had a total of 5,892 for the gold medal, while Korea won the silver with 5,824 and Italy picked up the bronze with their total of 5,712.

The Malaysian men's team of Mohd Firdaus Mohamad, Chua Hock Seng, Chin Nyuk Hing, Wong Chiew Hoong and Zaidi had a total of 5,240 pins for their 14th spot out of 19 nations.

Zaidi, in the All-Events had a total of 4,759 to finish fifth. Taiwan's Chang Li-Hsiao was tops with his total of 5,228, while England's Ray Lay was second with his total of 4,819 and Holland's Martin Visser third with his total of 4,805.

In the women's team event the Taiwanese women had a total of 5,334 pins for the gold, while the USA won the silver with their total of 5,265 and Sweden the bronze with 5,245.

Today, swimmer Jimmy Wong Tee Meng and badminton doubles pair Yeo Kok Fang and Koh Fook Soong will be in action.

Jimmy, who won the bronze medal in his pet event event - 400m individual medley - on Wednesday, will be competing in his final event - the 100m backstroke. But it is not his favourite event.

Yeo and Koh, on the other hand, will be in action in the men's semi-finals against top seed India's Rajeev Bagga and Sandeep Dhillion.

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