Bronze medal for Singaporean
18th December, K.Lumpur: Three gold medalist, Geraldine Ng of Singapore was awarded a bronze medal in the Women's Masters finals of the concluding 14th Asean University Games Bowling Competition despite losing in the third and fourth place playoff stepladder finals. Hope for a final gold medal in the Masters finals were dashed when Geraldine Ng, who made the stepladder knockout finals as second-seed, narrowly lost to third-seed, Siti Nur Syakila Mardyana of Malaysia, 191-199.
In the third and fourth place playoffs against the other semifinal loser, Nur Syakira Yeoh, Ng lost 191-211 but was awarded the bronze medal due to the rules that no single country is allowed to win all three medals.
Zaitl Iman went on to win her first gold and a second for Malaysia after she outsed challenger, Siti Nur Syakila in an all-Malaysian finals, 204-197. The champion had edged team-mate, Nur Syakira Yeoh, 184-183 in the semifinals to reach the championship match.
In the men's division, Singapore's hope of securing the final gold medal was again foiled when Kenneth Teo was eliminated by second-seed, Sithiphol Kunaksorn of Thailand, 233-181 in the second semifinal match.
Sithiphol went on to claim his fifth gold medal when he prevented Malaysia a double by beating Muhd Zaim Aulfadhlie Said, 196-184. Muhd Zaim settled for the silver medal. A list ditch to clinch the bronze medal was also dashed when Kenneth lost to top-seed, Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit of Thailand, 160-277 to finish fourth.
Singapore emerged as overall champion with a medal haul of 6-3-3 with Thailand in second with 4-2-4. Malaysia finished third with 2-7-5. University students from five countries took part in the week-long competition.
Detailed scores: Women's Stepladder | Men's Stepladder.Photos courtesy of MTBC.