A bowling women's trio of Esther Cheah, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman and Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi delivered Malaysia’s first gold medal at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games on the fourth day of the Games.

The trio ended a 24-year drought for the gold in Asia’s biggest multi-sports meet after downing 4,326 pins at the Jakabaring Bowling Centre.

Compatriots Sin Li Jane, Natasha Mohamed Roslan and Shalin Zulkifli had to settle for fourth place after recording 4,144 pins.



The silver and bronze medal were won by Pan Yu Fen, Chou Chia Chen and Tsai Hsin Yi (4,255 pins) of Chinese Taipei and Yeo Ruo Qi Joey, Tan Daphne Shi Jing, Lim Bernice Hui Ying (4,250 pins) of Singapore respectively.

Earlier, in the first block in the morning, Cheah, Siti Safiyah Amirah and Syaidatul Afifah came out on top with 2,184 pinfalls, followed by Sin, Natasha and Shalin in second place (2,151 pins).

The last time Malaysia won gold in the event was at the 1994 edition in Hiroshima, while in 2002 in Busan and 2006 in Doha, the girls won silver.