Muhammad Rafiq blows rivals away to clinch men's Masters title at 2023 ATBC

KUALA LUMPUR: National bowling ace Muhammad Rafiq Ismail proved that he is a class above the rest when he clinched the men's Masters title at the 26th Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships (ATBC) in Hong Kong today.

The 25-year-old Malaysian was in his element in the final at the South China Athletics Association Bowling Centre when he beat South Korean Park Geonha 488-450.

Earlier, Muhammad Rafiq made the three-man stepladder finals in second spot with 4,097 pinfalls. South Koreans Geonha was top with 4,147 pinfalls and Ji Geun third with 4,064 pinfalls.

Muhammad Rafiq then beat Ji Geun 244-182 in the semi-finals to set up a final showdown against Geonha.

On Monday (Jan 16), Muhammad Rafiq created a sensation when he won gold in the men's All Events by knocking down 6,128 pins from four events combined (singles, doubles, trios and teams) - 55 pins ahead of compatriot Timmy Tan (6,073 pinfalls).

Bronze went to Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam, who collected 5,954 pinfalls, while the national squad also took the fourth and fifth positions through Ahmad Muaz Fishol (5,938) and Syafiq Ridhwan (5,850) respectively.

Muhammad Rafiq also helped Syafiq Ridhwan, Mohd Syazirol Shamsudin, Tun Hakim, Timmy and Ahmad Muaz to clinch the men's team title after posting a 7,323 total, besides taking the trios gold with Timmy and Ahmad Muaz.

Apart from the four gold medals, Muhammad Rafiq also clinched the doubles silver with Timmy.

The national team, thus, ended their challenge in Hong Kong with four gold, five silver and three bronze medals and failed to repeat their feat in the 2019 edition in Kuwait where Malaysia emerged overall champions.

-- BERNAMA