From tragedy to jubilation for Malaysia lawn bowler

Malaysia’s lawn bowls team celebrate together after won medals with 4 gold for the lawn bowls match during Sea Games 2019 at Clark Global City, Clark. FAIHAN GHANI/The Star.

Malaysian lawn bowler Mohd Idham Amin almost gave up the sport after a tragic car crash which killed his mother and brother. Idham himself was left with a broken leg, needing a metal plate. It was five months before he could walk again.

But the determined 19-year-old fought against the odds. And he lived out a fairy tale when he won his first ever Southeast Asian Games gold at the Friendship Gate field of Clark Global City Wednesday morning.

Idham and his teammates Daeng Dhadyry Dahasry, Zulhelmie Redzuan and Fairul Izwan Abd Muin won the men’s fours event with an emphatic 24-6 win over Brunei.

Not many expected the men’s fours event to bag the gold as the hosts Philippines were the defending champions and Daeng and Zulhelmie were the only players left from the team that won the silver in 2017.

“This gold medal is really special to me and I’m very thankful for it.

“I will continue to work hard and endeavor to do better after this, ” said Idham who remembers the emotional roller coaster he went through after the accident.

“I really wanted to quit lawn bowls after the crash but after I couldn’t bowl for so long, I realized I enjoyed the sport too much and it could help me relax and focus on something else beside the accident. So, I went back, ” said Idham.

“It was also my sister who asked me to play the sport in the first place. With the support of my family, I continued.”

He came back a year later at the Malaysian Games (Sukma) in Sarawak and caught the eyes of the national team. There was no looking back after that.

Meanwhile, in the women’s triples event, Auni Fathiah Kamis, Zuraini Khalid and Azlina Arshad ended the lawn bowls campaign by winning the bronze when they defeated Brunei 17-15 in the 3rd place playoff.