But Li Jane was a strike away from clinching the gold at the Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre. The 20-year-old needed a strike in the last frame to seal the gold medal, but the 10th pin stood, untouched.
The Malaysian contingent then were stunned when Li Jane missed the spare, putting her two pins behind Singapore’s Cherie Tan in the final standings.
Cherie won the gold on 1,286 pinfalls after six games while Li Jane had 1,284. Singapore’s Jazreel Tan (1,283) took the bronze.
“I thought I had reeled in a good ball in the last frame, but somehow the 10th pin stood. I didn’t know where I stood in the standings at that moment and I admit it was a missed opportunity,” said Li Jane.
Li Jane, who is making her Games debut, almost silenced her critics for claiming she choked on the big stage when she reeled in 233 in the fifth game against Cherie’s low 168.
But Cherie had a better final game when she struck home from the eighth frame, albeit returning with a 190 score.
“I hope I can turn my performance today into a gold medal-winning performance in the doubles tomorrow,” said Li Jane, who has been heavily criticised for churning out dismal performances in many big competitions, including the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the Women’s World Championships in September.
As for Adrian, he had a poor start when he could only reel in 187 and 195 in the first two games. But he regained his focus to grab the bronze medal.
National coach Holloway Cheah was philosophical about Li Jane’s miss in the final frame.
“Everybody missed today and we missed some too. But this is bowling and that is how it is in this sport,” he said.
“Cherie wasn’t playing very well in the final game but she did well with three strikes towards the end of the final game.
“Let’s hope we can turn things around as tomorrow will be a different ball game with the long oil pattern in the doubles event.”
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