KUALA LUMPUR: Ahmad Muaz Fishol and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman have been selected for the prestigious AMF World Cup in Hermosilo, Mexico on Nov 4-12.
Regarded as one of the toughest tournaments in bowling, Muaz and Siti Safiyah will both use the World Cup to prepare for the World Championships in Las Vegas on Nov 24-Dec 6.
In the Shanghai edition last year, Malaysia were represented by Rafiq Ismail and Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi.
Syaidatul finished third in the women’s event, while Rafiq took ninth in the men’s.
Muaz is making his debut, while it will be a fourth appearance for Siti Safiyah following her top 10 achievements in the previous three outings.
Siti Safiyah's best achievement was third place in the 2009 Melaka edition. She took 10th in 2006 in Caracas, Venezuela; and eighth in the 2015 Last Vegas edition.
Siti Safiyah is one of the favourites in the World Cup, following her success in winning the Professional Women’s Bowling Association’s (PWBA) Wichita Open in June.
Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek stands as Malaysia’s only champion in the World Cup, achieved in the men’s event in 2012 in Wroclaw, Poland.
The others who came close were Shalin Zulkifli (1996 – silver) and Sin Li Jane (2014 – silver).
Siti Safiyah said it is every bowler’s dream to win the World Cup at least once in their career.
“After three top 10 finishes, I hope to be on the podium this time. I am capable of doing better and I will try to win it,” said Siti Safiyah, who won the team gold and trios bronze at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August.
“The World Cup needs you to be on top of your game from start to finish. Every pin counts in this competition,” she said.
Muaz wants to use the World Cup to bounce back from a poor season. He was among those who did not win a medal in the Sea Games.
The Kedah-born was also not considered for the upcoming one-month playing stint in the US PBA Tour.
Only Podium Programme members – Alex Liew, Adrian Ang, Rafiq, Timmy Tan and Syafiq – were selected for the PBA Tour’s US Open, the World Series of Bowling IX and the PBA World Championships on Oct 25-Nov 19.
The five, together with Muaz, will make up the men’s squad for the world meet.
"Of course, I am upset that I was not selected for the PBA Tour. But it is okay. I will try to impress in my debut appearances both at the World Cup and the world meet,” Muaz said.
Siti Safiyah, along with Shalin, Li Jane, Esther Cheah, Syaidatul and Natasha Roslan make up the women’s team for the world meet.