KUALA LUMPUR: Hats off to Nur Hazirah Ramli, Adania Redzwan, Adelia Nur Irwan Syazalee, and Anis Hannani Romzi for securing Malaysia's first girls' team title at the World Youth Championships since its inception in 1990.
The quartet combined superbly today to beat a formidable Singapore side led by singles champion Arriane Tay 2-0 (221-211, 236-190) in the final at Fiesta Bowling Centre in Incheon, South Korea.
Team manager and coach Wendy Chai praised her charges for accomplishing what she and her teammates couldn't during her bowling career.
"Winning a gold medal in the team event has been our main target for decades. Previously together with Shalin Zulkifli, Lai Kin Ngoh and Low Poh Lian back in 1998, we tried but failed," said Wendy.
"As a coach now, these girls have made my dream come true. It's a memorable moment for our girls.
"They didn't perform well in the singles and doubles events, with their best result being top 16 in match play. However, they never gave up and were fired up for the team events.
"In the final, Singapore has always been our main competitor. Bowling against them puts enormous pressure on everyone.
"However, our girls had their own strategy of cheering each other up and staying calm. They enjoyed every frame they bowled since the first game of the team event. The chemistry among them was excellent.
"I never expected these young and upcoming girls to handle the pressure so well during the final, especially with it being broadcast live throughout Korea," said Wendy.
Hazirah, who turned 21 yesterday, said: "Experiencing a lot of emotions right now. It all still feels a little surreal. Being a world champion has always been part of my dream since young. However happy I am, there is also a sense of immense gratefulness. This is my last ever world youth and it was the last event we had qualified, so it was really my last chance.
"Winning gold is sweet, being the first to do it creates history, winning it on my birthday makes it special but what ultimately brings blissful satisfaction is being able to achieve my goals."
The victory marked Malaysia's first team event victory in the tournament after 16 years, when Aaron Kong, Adrian Ang, Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek and Nur Aiman Khairuddin emerged triumphant in the men's team event at the 2008 edition in Florida, United States.
Malaysia ended their campaign in Incheon with one gold and one bronze.
The bronze was won through Hazirah, Adania, Hariz Adlan and Izz Naqiuddin Putera in the mixed team event on Wednesday. Their gallant run ended in the semi-finals by the host with a 2-1 defeat (233-234, 181-174, 248-212).