Singapore dominates girls under-16 finals

Singapore dominates girls under-16 finals

24th December, Penang: Singapore youths dominated the Girl's 16 and under Masters finals of the 37th Penang Pesta International Open on Thursday morning after Tan Yan Ling led Stacy Lian and Oriana Tay to a top three finish. Asian Youth Games Doubles Gold and Team Silver medalist, Ilma Nur Jannah set an impressive opening game with 223 to lead her team-mate, Tan Yan Ling by 7 pins in second spot while Michaela Oehler was third a further 1 pin away.

But Tan's 247 in the second game moved the 16-year-old away from the pack with a 68-pin margin. The leader kept on a blistering pace to reel in 200, 224, 210, 228, 199 and 245 to end the 8-game finals with 1769 and 197 pins ahead of her nearest rival.

Stacy Lian, who trailed Tan all the way, settled for second spot with 1572 while Oriana Tay of SBF Singpaore did well to clinch third spot with 1551. Rachel Ang and Daphne Aw rounded a superb showing by the Singaporean youths in fourth and fifth positions.   "Fortunately I had a good start and at the halfway point, I had a decent margin over my opponents which allowed me to relax and bowl my game," said the delighted Yan Ling, who also won the National Championship Youth Girl's Open title last month.

"Although I did not make the Asian Youth Games squad after I was short-listed for training, I'm not too disappointed," added the sec 4 Singapore Sports School student. "That made me train a lot harder and I guess my hard work paid off. Singapore almost had a field day in the 16 and under Masters with another victory in the boy's division but that sweet victory was denied by Perak's Muhammad Izzul Fahmi, who took the title with 1663.

Singapore Sports School's Joel Tan, who led Muhammad Izzul by 15 pins going into the eighth and final game shot 203 to Muhammad Izzul's stronger 234 to lose the chance of winning his first title.

Joel settled for second with 1647 as SBF's Jevarn Li hung on to third spot with 1604, a firther 43 pins adrift. Three other Singapore Sports School finalists, Nicholas Goh, Jaris Goh and Kelvin Lee finished 9th, 10th and 12th positions respectively.     Photos by Terence Yaw in Penang.