Doha: The crash of pins being smashed into oblivion accompanied the UAE's second medal in the bowling competition.
Youngster Mahmoud Al Attar, just 18, had claimed a bronze on Sunday, but yesterday, on a high from that success, the UAE were able to go one better.
The team of Jamal Ali Mohammad and Nayef Eqab Al Abadla kept their cool to produce a sterling performance that was good enough to bag them joint second alongside hosts Qatar. Thailand had to content themselves with fourth.
Al Abadla also earned himself the extra accolade of scoring the Games' first perfect 300.
UAE coach, John Fantini took the success in his stride, saying he was simply happy that his team put 100 per cent effort.
"I'm pleased with them and very proud," he said from the Qatar Bowling Centre last night. "The medals are a bonus, but I'm happy that they have been putting in the effort."
No speculation
The UAE is entered in other bowling competitions over the next few days, but Fantini refuses to speculate on a possible medal tally.
"In this sport, you can play fantastically well and you will be beaten by someone who plays better. In order to win you need two things; you have to be good and you have to be lucky," he said.
Bowling success is not alien to the UAE boys though, they won two golds, three silvers and two bronze medals at the GCC Championships. But now the team is finding those results are translating to success on the biggest Asian stage of all.
On Sunday night, Al Attar scored 1,401 points with an average of 233.5 points. He scored 243 points in the first attempt 243, second 233, third 257, fourth 247, fifth 221 and 200 points in the sixth and last attempt. The gold medal was won by Leonard Ryan Lalisang from Indonesia with 1,442 points and the silver went to Bok Eum Choi of South Korea (1,419 points).
"It is the most important achievement in my life. It is like a dream-come-true for me to win a medal in the Asian Games," he said.
"Recently I won a gold medal in the GCC tournament held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but this medal came in a far bigger stage."
Al Attar said that their team will do their best in the remaining bowling events despite the tough competition. Vantini also identified Al Attar is a player for the future. "He is still young, only 18 years and I think he can do much better in future."
