Dubai: Hosts Emirates Airline dominated at the end of the opening day of the third World Airline Bowling Championship (WABC), which got under way at the Dubai Bowling Club yesterday.
Emirates Team 2, represented by Mohammad Alam, Toots Amerigo Bilocura, Arnold Asuncion and Edwin Liew, upstaged hot favourites Emirates Team 1 in the four-member team competition.
Emirates 1, with Mohammad Al Khaja, Selwyn Valentine, Dilan Selvadurai and Rica Asuncion in its ranks, kept pace with the leaders. But found the Emirates Team 2 too focused as they lost by a slender margin of 72 pins.
Emirates 2 had a total pinfall of 5,108 compared to 5,036 from the Emirates 1 quartet.
"It feels excellent to get off to a winning start in this competition," Emirates 2 captain Mohammad Alam said.
"It was quite close and I salute my teammate Edwin (Liew) for two strikes in his final visit."
"It's within the Emirates family. I am happy that one of our teams won and the title did not go to any other airline," said Emirates Team 1's Dilan Selvadurai.
Earlier, the WABC was inaugurated by Ebrahim Abdul Malek, Secretary-General of the General Authority of Youth and Sport Welfare (GAYSW) and of the UAE National Olympic Committee.
Impressive entries
The three-day tournament has attracted 68 teams from 16 international airlines.
Emirates has fielded a contingent of six teams, including an all-women's team, and are strong contenders for the trophy.
The tournament is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group.
Results
Teams event (mixed): 1. Emirates Team 2 (Mohammad Alam, Toots Amerigo Bilocura, Arnold Asuncion, Edwin Liew) 5108 pins; 2. Emirates Team 1 (Mohammad Al Khaja, Selwyn Valentine, Dilan Selvadurai, Rica Asuncion) 5036 pins; 3. Korean Airlines 2 (Jae-Cheon Ha, Geo-Yeob Han, Ki-Soo Kim, Hyun-Ha An) 4917 pins.
