KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion Natasha Roslan kept her title defence alive as all four Malaysian women marched into the singles knockout stage of the IBF World Cup in Munich, Germany on Saturday.
While Malaysia celebrated a clean sweep in the women's qualifying rounds, the men's challenge ended with last year's silver medallist Rafiq Ismail coming agonisingly close to making the last-32.
The action-packed qualifying rounds, held from Oct 14-17, saw bowlers compete in one-game round-robin matches across their respective pools, earning three points for a win and one for a tie.
The top four bowlers from each women's pool advanced to the knockout stage, compared with only the top two in the men's competition.
Natasha, who made history by winning the women's singles crown in Hong Kong last year, finished third in Pool 1 of Group C with 27 points to extend her hopes of back-to-back titles.
However, it was experienced campaigner Sin Li Jane who impressed the most, topping Pool 2 of Group D with 33 points, winning 11 out of 13 matches, ahead of Singapore's Cherie Tan on a tie-break.
World Championships singles silver medallist Adelia Nur Irwan Syazalee also shone brightly, finishing second in Pool 1 of Group B with 30 points, while Nur Hazirah Ramli secured the fourth and final qualifying spot in Pool 2 of Group A, also with 30 points.
The four Malaysians will return to the lanes on Sunday for the knockout rounds, with the singles champions to be crowned later in Munich.
However, the draw has presented Malaysia with an intriguing scenario, with all four women placed in the same quarter.
"As fate would have it, our bowlers are in the same pack. So if they win their first matches, we face each other all the way to the semis," said Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary-general Maradona Chok, who is also the team manager.
Natasha will open her knockout campaign against the Netherlands' Samantha Greiner, while Li Jane faces Denmark's Megan Dicay.
Adelia takes on the Philippines' Krizziah Lyn Macatula, with Nur Hazirah drawn against Denmark's Karen Kaergaard Nielsen.
Should all four Malaysians win their last-32 matches, Natasha will meet Li Jane in the last-16, while Adelia will face Nur Hazirah.
That would guarantee Malaysia one semi-finalist, although the draw also rules out the possibility of an all-Malaysian final.
Meanwhile, Rafiq was unfortunate to miss the men's knockout stage after a dramatic three-way roll-off for second place in Pool 3 of Group C.
The 2025 silver medallist finished with 21 points, level with two other bowlers, but was denied a qualifying spot after Dutchman Mathijs Beverdam produced two Brooklyn strikes - shots that crossed over to the opposite side of the headpin but still knocked down all 10 pins - in the decisive roll-off.
"Rafiq fought hard and made it into the roll-off when three bowlers tied for second," said Maradona.
Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam also narrowly missed out after finishing fourth in Pool 1 of Group B with 21 points.
Ahmad Muaz Fishol placed sixth in Pool 2 of Group A with 15 points despite averaging an impressive 217.4, while Timmy Tan finished seventh in Pool 1 of Group D, also with 15 points.
The quartet must now regroup quickly and turn their attention to defending the historic men's team gold they captured in Hong Kong last year, when they defeated Puerto Rico 3-2 in the final.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd