KEY POINTS:
Malaysia emerged as a New Zealand nemesis at the World Bowls Championships in Christchurch yesterday, signalling the continuing rise of the Asian nation as a global power in the sport.
The Malaysian men's pair of Sufuan Said and Fairul Izwan ended the unbeaten run of Gary Lawson and Russell Meyer with an eighth-round 16-13 win.
And at the same time, on an adjacent green at the Papanui club, the Malaysian women's four skipped by Nor Hashimal Ismail made the task of New Zealand's Jo Edwards, Sharon Sims and Marina and Jan Khan of making the top four a shade more difficult with a 16-all draw.
Malaysia's bowls development has been remarkable, considering that the sport was not even played in the country until 1992 when a full-scale, Government-backed effort was launched to introduce it in time for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
State funding and extensive coaching, especially from Australians, have seen Malaysian playing numbers grow to 2500 and for some to be world class. And they have had an extensive preparation for these championships, having played in Christchurch last year in a test series against the Black Jacks and having had several players compete in the recent nationals.
One of those who has benefited from the groundwork work and funding has been the women's singles player Sita Zalina Ahmed, who won the recent national singles title and has been the gold medallist at the last two Commonwealth Games.
She has so far had only one loss at these championships and, with England's Ellen Falkner and New Zealand's Val Smith, is on most shortlists to be either the singles winner or in the final. Another to have benefited has been Sufuan, who like his lead Fairul, is just 25. In 2005 he beat New Zealand's Ali Forsyth to be the world under-25 champion before adding a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
"We are very lucky because our Government gives us so much support," he said as he celebrated his first full international win over New Zealand which followed victory against Australia on Saturday.
While not happy with the loss, there was some consolation for Lawson. Down 14-1 after 13 ends, he and Meyer fought back strongly, and with a five on the 16th end, almost snatched what would have been a miraculous win.
Lawson and Meyer were also left with a healthy points differential which should ensure they are the top qualifiers.
New Zealand women's singles player Val Smith continued her sizzling form yesterday at Burnside, wrapping up a top-four spot even with two rounds of section play left with decisive wins over Karin Byars (Swaziland) and Colleen Webb (South Africa).
She thrashed Webb 21-5, taking only 13 ends and one hour, and the ease of the victory surprised even Smith. "I've played Colleen before and she's a better player than what she showed," she said.
Smith's concern was to continue her momentum today against Lebogang Mascarenhas (Botswana) and Peggy Ma (Hong Kong).
"They're both good players and I don't want to relax too much. "
The morning problems against Malaysia aside, it was another good day for New Zealand's men's and women's sides.
Lawson and Meyer won their ninth-round match against Brunei 25-12, Edwards' four had an easy win over Namibia and Richard Girvan's men's triples had two big wins. The home nation should be in all four quarter-finals tomorrow.
