KUALA LUMPUR: One thing about national bowlers is that they always bounce back.
After finishing empty-handed in the opening two events of the World Youth Championships in South Korea, the quartet of Adania Mohd Redzwan, Nur Hazirah Ramli, Adelia Nur Irwan Syazalee, and Anis Hannani Romzi struck back and have assured at least a silver medal for Malaysia in the girls' team event.
They booked a spot in the final on Tuesday after defeating Colombia 2-1 (201-196, 201-231, 202-178) in Tuesday's semi-final at Fiesta Bowling Centre in Incheon.
Malaysia will face arch-rivals Singapore in the title match, where a win would secure Malaysia's first women's team gold in the championships' history.
Singapore defeated Norway 2-0 (183-169, 201-189) in the other semi-final clash.
Adania, Hazirah, Adelia, and Anis qualified for the knockout stage by winning the Group B round-robin match play. Malaysia secured six out of a possible seven wins to clinch 18 points, finishing three points ahead of second-placed Norway.
The Malaysian girls showed early promise by finishing second in the 10-game qualifying roll-off with 2,016 pinfalls, comfortably making the top-16 cut for the match play stage.
In the boys' team competition, Ahmad Azriq Izamudin, Hariz Adlan Azman, Izz Naqiuddin Putra and Megat Zaqrul Haiqal qualified in sixth place for the match play stage but failed to mount a strong challenge.
They managed only three wins, finishing fourth in Group B with nine points, six short of the top-two cut occupied by South Korea and Japan.
Malaysia last won the boys' team gold in the 2008 edition in Florida, United States.
Team manager Wendy Chai was delighted with how her charges responded to the quiet start in the singles and doubles events.
"I always believed that this team, whether the girls or the boys, could deliver," said Wendy.
"In the first two events, they showed some good fight on the lanes, but when it came to crucial moments, their shot-making was a little off compared to other countries.
"I'm glad they never gave up, kept their heads high, and bounced back in the team event, which is always our main medal target.
"In today's match play, both the girls and boys put on a good showing. The chemistry between them and their shot-making was excellent."
Wendy added that even though the boys did not fare as well in terms of points, they achieved the highest pinfall total among all eight teams in Group B, scoring 1,620 total, which was 68 pins more than South Korea.
"We can't fault the boys' effort. Yes, in terms of points, they did not make the cut, but performance-wise, they bowled very well, chalking up the highest pinfalls in the group," explained Wendy.
The tournament resumes with the mixed team event, and Malaysia will be hoping to secure another place in the final. All the gold medal matches will be on Thursday.