Brunei overall champions in lawn bowls

BRUNEI finished as overall champions of the 3rd Borneo Games lawn bowls competition after winning two gold, two silver and one bronze medals during the events conclusion yesterday.

Capturing a total of three gold, three silver and one bronze medal at the Lawn Bowls Centre of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas, they finished with a medal in every event except for the womens pair where they lost out to bronze to Sarawak 16-7.

Returning with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals from the last edition of the Games in Kuching, Sarawak in 2007, this year's haul can only be termed a success.

"I feel great, I am satisfied with all the players and I think they did well," said the team's assistant coach Abdul Rahman Hj Omar.

"It was a matter of mental strength, because the greens were not stable and if there were tricky shots they would have missed the hits.

"I am most pleased with the mens triple team which won gold because they were new players. It is a good surprise," he added.

The trio of Bahren Hj Rahman at lead, Firdaud Nawi at second and skipper Yakub Hj Abd Hamid beat Sarawaks Mazali Sabli, Rosman Majunit and Yusuf Aminuddin 16-14 in a thrilling match which had to be settled in sudden death.

The scores were tied 14-14 after 15 runs and the match had to be extended. Brunei scored the next two shots to win the game, a fitting conclusion to the event.

Melaka edged Sabah 10-9 to win bronze.

Brunei's other gold medal yesterday came from the women's fours team of Esmawandy Brahim, Rosita Hj Mohd Kamis, Shahduwani Aman and Siti Ervi Firdaussanti Umar who prevailed 21-9 over Sarawak's Hamimah Sejili, Rohayah Hj Abg Abd Latif, Rosmawaty Sharie and Siti Hawa Kipli.

Labuan captured the bronze after beating Sabah 17-6.

Brunei's other silver medals came from the men's single event where Hj Norhadi Hj Mohammad lost 21-12 to Sarawak's Muhd Akbar Busman and the women's single where Dk Nurul Nabilah Pg Salleh Chuchu fell 21-19 to Sarawak's Alfiza Abdullah.

Labuan's Muhd Syazwan Sapar beat Sabah's Mohammad Ridhuan Freedy Rustam 21-7 to clinch bronze.

Labuan triumphed over Sarawak in the women's single as well, with Noor Fazrina Hj Jaffre beating Fatin Aqilah Amran 21-10.

The bronze medal they won was through Abu Hurairah Hj Serakawi, Hammaley Hj Hamjah, Mohd Israt Amiruddin Hj Abd Ghani and Sahiful in the men's fours where they edged Sabah's Abdul Rajib Rajan, Mohd Aidil Abd Muin, Mohd Rahmat Baktiar and Muhd Hasyir Halim 12-11.

Labuan won the event after beating Sarawak 17-10.

Brunei first won the gold in the women's triple event on Tuesday courtesy of Dk Nurul Nabilah, Esmawandy and Siti Ervi Firdaussanti who scored a 13-5 victory over Sabah's Norazira Abg Ismail, Nur Syafiqa Johana Tan and Nur Syafiqah Yain 13-5.

Finishing with bronze, Sarawak were leading 10-8 in their match against Labuan when it was halted due to rain.

Also on Tuesday, the Brunei men's pair of Hj Mat Rasil Hj Ahmad and Mohd Israt Amiruddin Hj Abd Gani finished second to Sabah's Mohd Farid al-Hamidi and Mohd Hairi Hamzah in the men's pair.

They were trailing 11-8 when the match as abandoned.

Sarawak also finished with bronze in the men's pair event, enjoying a 14-10 advantage over Labuan when the match was stopped. The Brunei Times