Singapore’s Ismail Hussain successfully defends bowling crown at Asean Para Games

SINGAPORE — Even a fervent Malaysian crowd backing their home favourites could not stop Singapore bowler Mohamed Ismail Hussain from winning his third Asean Para Games singles title in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (Sept 19).

The 33-year-old scored 1,303 pinfalls over six games, pipping Malaysians Rizal Hassan (1,216) and Noresham Manaf (1,120) to the gold medal in the mixed singles final under the TPB3 category for the visually impaired.

Competing in his third regional Games, Ismail refused to be ruffled by the raucous home support at the Sunway Mega Lanes, and he told TODAY that the Malaysian fans’ cheers had actually worked to his advantage as he imagined that they were cheering for him.

“Actually I liked the crowd,” he said. “I was thinking positively, ‘hey the crowd is supporting you’.”

“To win in Malaysia is something great... It’s not easy.

“One of the Malaysian actually had eight or nine strikes in a row... and even though I couldn’t see it, I could hear the crowd cheering and I knew he had a good game.

“But I told myself, it’s not the end yet, I still had two more blocks left, and in bowling you don’t give up until the last ball.”

This is the third Asean Para Games gold in a row for Ismail in the event. He won the gold in Singapore in 2015, and clinched two titles in the singles and doubles in Indonesia in 2011. He also has another silver medal and a bronze from those Games in his collection. Bowling was not contested at the 2014 Asean Para Games in Myanmar.

Ismail, who also won a gold at the IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) Tenpin Bowling World Championship last month, told TODAY that his Asean Para Games win was special “as our opponents are much stronger”. With one gold medal in the bad, the 33-year-old is turning his focus back to the lanes as he aims for more titles in his remaining three events.

“I’ve already reset, I’ve forgotten about everything today. I’m now just focused on preparing for tomorrow when I compete again (in the mixed doubles event).”

On Wednesday, Ismail will team up with veteran bowler Thomas Yong in the mixed doubles. He is also entered in the mixed trios and mixed teams events on Thursday and Friday respectively.