Having partnered world number nine Anthony Kiepe to victory in the mixed pairs, clinching an 18-7 win over Malaysia’s Norehawati Daud and Syahmil Syazwan, the 27-year-old was forced to immediately back up at the Bayuemas Indoor Bowls Stadium as lightning and thunder crashed around her.
Undeterred, Duke, a silver medallist at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, put the finishing touches on a memorable campaign as she edged out the host nation’s Nor Shafeeqah Yahya 8-6, 9-6 to secure the women’s singles final.
Malaysia’s Hizlee Rais clinched the final title with a 4-11, 8-7, 3-2 victory over New Zealand’s Matt Gallop, who had earlier ended Kiepe’s title defence in the semi-finals.
Nonetheless, the Helensvale powerhouse can be happy with his time in Kuala Lumpur, having defended his mixed pairs crown, which he won with Anne Johns last year, with Duke by his side.
“It’s been a great tournament,” Duke said in the moments after stepping off the green.
“To win both titles is terrific, especially as I didn’t want to let Chook down after he won last year’s mixed pairs final with Anne.
“It’s a huge relief and the singles is just a bonus.”
Meanwhile, at the World Champion of Champions on Norfolk Island today (26/11), Australia’s Aron Sherriff fired back into contention, snapping a two game losing streak against Ireland’s Gerard McGleave.
Having dropped consecutive matches to Scotland’s Allister Reid and South Africa’s Wayne Perry yesterday to slip to a 2-2 record, the world number seven reignited his campaign with an 11-8, 11-3 victory to move into fifth place in his section.
In the women’s singles, Joyce Lindores has continued her impressive start in the green and gold, with the five-time world champion defeating sentimental favourite Carmen Anderson 4-9 9-7 3-1 in their round four blockbuster.
Despite the tie-break loss, the Norfolk Island veteran still tops the group on set difference, with Lindores applying the pressure in second place thanks to a 13-5, 7-5 win over Fiji’s Doreen O'Connor this afternoon.
