Timmy Tan blazed the Coronado Lanes at the Starmall EDSA Shaw on Tuesday to retain the men’s singles gold for Malaysia at the 30th SEA Games.

After a poor showing by the national women’s squad in the morning, the men’s team struck through Tan to give Malaysia a golden start.

The 25-year-old topped the chart by scoring 1334 pinfalls to edge Thailand's Annop Arromsaranom by three pins, while Singaporean Cheah Ray Han took bronze with 1316 pinfalls.

His effort completed a hat-trick of wins for Malaysia in men's singles, after Rafiq Ismail’s feats in Singapore in 2015 and Kuala Lumpur in 2017.

"I came to the venue with a good feeling that I was going to win something today.

"I started well but had some bad games towards the end because of difficulties with the lanes.

"I discussed with the coaches; they said be patient as everyone was struggling with the lanes and not scoring high.

"I would like to dedicate this medal to all Malaysians,” he said after winning his third SEA Games gold, having tasted success in the trios and team events in Singapore.

Earlier in the women’s singles, Malaysia failed to finish on the podium as last edition’s silver medallist Sin Li Jane ended in fourth place with 1250 pinfalls, followed by Esther Cheah (1229), Shalin Zulkifli (1229) and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman (1207) in sixth, seventh and ninth places respectively.

For Wednesday's women's doubles event, team manager Maradona Chok confirmed Sin-Cheah and Siti Safiyah-Shalin as the combinations, while in men’s doubles, Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam will pair with Rafiq and Tan will team up with Ahmad Muaz Fishol.