KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran bowler Ahmad Muaz Fishol has decided to call time on his 16-year national team career.
The 33-year-old announced that November would be his final month representing Malaysia, bringing an end to a journey that began in 2010.
Muaz, however, is bowing out on a high, having enjoyed another successful season that included winning the Hong Kong Open in August.
Long regarded as one of Malaysia’s most dependable team players, Muaz has been a mainstay of the men’s squad alongside Rafiq Ismail, Timmy Tan, Syafiq Ridhwan and Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam.
While he has enjoyed considerable individual success, Muaz has also played an important role in many of Malaysia’s biggest team achievements over the years
.And of all the medals he has won, none means more to him than the historic men’s team gold at last year’s IBF World Cup in Hong Kong.
“Winning the World Cup was my greatest achievement. Ever since I was young, I had dreamed of competing inside a stadium and winning the World Cup,” said Muaz.
“To finally achieve both was a dream come true.”
The triumph, which saw Malaysia defeat Puerto Rico 3-2 in the final, was among the highlights of a decorated career that also included two gold medals at the 2015 Singapore SEA Games and a trios silver at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
He also helped Malaysia secure the trios gold at the 2019 Asian Championships in Kuwait before adding two more golds in the trios and team events at the 2022 edition in Hong Kong.
Another memorable achievement came at the 2023 World Championships in Kuwait, where he partnered Syafiq to claim the men’s doubles bronze.
Despite spending more than a decade and a half on the national team, Muaz has shown few signs of slowing down.
He finished third at the Singapore Open in June before capturing the Hong Kong Open title two months later, ending a seven-year wait for an individual crown since his 2019 Malaysian Open triumph.
Muaz also featured in Malaysia’s bronze-medal-winning men’s team at last month’s IBF World Cup in Munich.
However, the decision to walk away from national duty was far from straightforward for the seasoned campaigner.
“I have no regrets. I’m just sad that I won’t be able to continue contributing to Malaysia as a national bowler,” he said.
“It really wasn’t an easy decision.”
In an emotional farewell message on social media, Muaz reflected on the difficult periods when he questioned his own ability and wondered whether his best days were behind him.
“Even after all these years, I was still given the chance to win, to compete and to show that I still had something to give,” he wrote.
He also thanked his parents, who introduced him to bowling, and his wife and son for their unwavering support and sacrifices throughout his career.
While his time in the national jersey is drawing to a close, Muaz stressed that he is not walking away from the sport altogether.
“This isn’t the end of my bowling story. Just a new chapter in life,” he wrote.
The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) also paid tribute to Muaz for his dedication and contributions over the past 16 years.
“Thank you for the memories, the efforts and everything you have given to Malaysian bowling. You will always be part of the MTBC family,” the congress said in a statement.