The national bowlers won five gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
National team manager Cheah Ban Cheng has touted the all-conquering men's team as Malaysia's dream team, one of the best in history, but also sounded the alarm over the declining level of the women's game.
Ban Cheng called on the National Sports Council (NSC) to look seriously at reinstating the back-up squad under the Pelapis programme after it had been disbanded due to budget cuts earlier this year.
"The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Association (MTBC) had taken up the bowlers from the back-up squad after it was disbanded and we had three of them here. All three won medals," said Ban Cheng.
Sin Li Jane only just missed out on the women's singles gold medal to Singapore's Cherie Tan, while Jacqueline Sijore, combined with senior Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi to win the doubles, where another bowler from that back-up trio, last-minute inclusion Dayang Khairunisa Abang Jamalidon, combined with Sharon Koh to take the bronze.
Adrian Ang, undoubtedly, emerged as the best bowler of the Games -- the 23-year old ending his campaign with four gold and a bronze medal around his neck.
The men's team swept as many gold medals, only missing out on the singles when Adrian had to settle for bronze, with Frederick Ong of the Philippines taking the gold medal on the opening day.
From then on, there was no stopping the men as they swept all remaining gold medals on offer with Adrian choosing the right time to rekindle his Asian Games winning partnership with Alex Liew to bag the doubles gold, and then the duo combined with Zulmazran Zulkifli to take the trios.
The team gold medal was a cruise as Malaysia led the standings from start to finish.
The women, meanwhile, struggled after Li Jane missed out on the singles gold, with only Zandra Aziela combining with Jacqueline to deliver their only gold medal of the Games.
The total haul of five gold, one silver and three bronze medals was an improvement from the four gold and a bronze medal won in Korat four years ago, but Ban Cheng believes the state of the women's team calls for some serious attention.
"Our men's team currently are a dream team for Malaysia. We have never had one team with all of them performing at such a high level. They're really an example to follow. They eat together, do everything as a team," said Ban Cheng.
"On the women's side, we still managed to deliver some medals, but we saw how Singapore have improved. We really need to look at the development programmes to maintain this level for the men and cut the drop in the women's game.
"I really hope the NSC will look at MTBC's proposal for the back-up squad to be reinstated."
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