KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — Malaysia finished empty-handed in the Bowling World Cup in Las Vegas, but teenage star Muhammad Rafiq Ismail can hold his head high.
The 18-year-old finished his debut campaign fourth with 8,721 pinfalls. Rafiq’s performance caught the world’s attention as he was 41st at one stage.
However the Ampang boy couldn’t make it through the top three for the stepladder final.
“Even though I missed the chance to win a medal, I am satisfied with my performance,” he said.
“If not for my errors on the first two days, I would have got the chance to playoff for th title. There is always next time.”
The triple SEA Games gold medallist added the World Cup gave him a lot of experience.
“The ultimate moment was during the fight to be among the top eight. It did my confidence a world of good as I had to fight my way from so far behind.
“Now I know I cannot give up no matter the situation,” he said, adding he hoped to emulate former World Cup winner Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek.
Syafiq won the tournament in 2012 in Wroclaw, Poland.
Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul finished eighth with 8,304 pinfalls. Defending champion, Clara Juliana Guerrero of Colombia retained the women’s title she won last year in Poland. Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong landed the country’s first ever World Cup title in the men’s category.
