KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's wait for their first gold at the Asian Junior Bowling Championships finally ended today when Afiqah Kamilia Ali powered the girls' side to a double joy for the hosts.
The Malaysia A quartet, featuring also Adelia Nur Irwan Syazalee, Intan Nor Edryana Azliman and Nur Ainul Hayat Ad Nor reclaimed the team gold last won in Kuching in 2017 after chalking up a 4,720 total.
Singapore A and Singapore B came in second and third with 4,681 and 4,547 pinfalls respectively.
Malaysia B side comprising Mayra Khayreena Khairi, Aswan Thurayya Zackir Rakesh, Khairin Batrisya Ahmad Lufti and Qurratu'ain Izdihar Pozi finished a creditable fourth after amassing 4,405 pinfalls.
Afiqah's fine individual performance over three days also saw her bagging the all-events title. She topped the leaderboard with 3,695 pinfalls, with Intan making it a glorious 1-2 finish for Malaysia with 3,680.
Afiqah was on cloud nine after turning the two bronze medals she won in Singapore last year into two gold.
"I'm so grateful for today's achievement. Honestly, I didn't expect to win two gold because I wasn't expecting too much in the all-events," said Afiqah.
"I won bronze in doubles and team in my debut last year. Those experiences really help to motivate me today, because the benchmark was set for me to surpass."
Intan, meanwhile, said she was fired up not to let Singapore continue their domination after sweeping both the singles and doubles gold in the opening two days.
"I was really frustrated and vowed that we must try to beat Singaporeans. Moreover, this is the team event, a title that all of us yearn the most," said Intan.
"In fact, after finishing third last year, I was already setting my sights on the team gold. I'm just so glad that we made it! The all-event silver is a bonus for me."
The national boys' team almost delivered another gold as Malaysia B settled for silver through the quartet of Amin Zulkarnain Zulkifli, Eldred Kho, Aiman Syahin and Aqil Faizal who combined to shoot 4,917.
Australia A and Australia B clinched the gold and bronze respectively on 4,969 and 4,846.
Malaysia A's Wan Zarif Ikram, Ahmad Farish Danial, Danial Abu Samah and Ethan Damien Goh had to be content with fourth place on 4,802 after the final game collapse which resulted in them slipping from the top spot after the penultimate stage.
National junior coach Azidi Ameran was proud with how his charges fought back after a disappointing second day without a medal to show.
"It was a great response from the bowlers with two gold medals. It could have been way better if our Team A could convert their penultimate lead into another gold, but it is how it is," said Azidi.
"In the boys' singles, Ethan was also leading all the way to the fifth game before settling for bronze. That's bowling.
"The boys and girls have promised to keep fighting and go for gold in the last event, the boys and girls Masters events (top 16). We have six girls and four boys qualified for it."