Singapore wins gold by two pins

15th November, Jakarta: Guangzhou Asian Games Masters silver medalist, Cherie Tan won Singapore's first gold medal of the 26th SEA Games Tenpin Bowling Championship by just 2 pins from Malaysia's Sin Li Jane at Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre on Tuesday.  Cherie Tan got off to a splendid start with a 242 opening game to lead Filipina, Lara Posadas by 4 pins and Cherie's team-mate, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan a further 4 pins away in third.

Local favourite, Putty Armein rolled the event's highest game with 264 to move up into second spot but the Singaporean held her lead with a superb 223 in the second game. Cherie continued her hot pace with 238 to open up a 63-pin lead over Malaysia's Sin Li Jane in second at the halfway mark.

The leader was on a roll knocking down 225 in the fourth to stretch her lead to 82 pins as another team-mate and Indonesia Open champion, New Hui Fen moved up second spot and Li Jane slipping down to third.

A poor 168 in the fifth game from Cherie allowed the Malaysian to narrow the gap down to just 19 pins after the latter shot 233 while another Singaporean, Jazreel Tan moved ahead of Jasmine for third, a further 8 pins away.

  All the top 3 gold medal contenders were neck and neck up to halfway point of the final game. Cherie appeared to have faded off after having had two opened frames while Jazreel fired four strikes-in-a-row.

Li Jane was on course for a good game and looked good to snatch the gold but Cherie fought back galantly striking out in her last frame to end with 190 and win the gold with 1286. The Malaysian managed 204 to settle for the silver medal with 1284, just two pins away.

Jazreel ended strongly but was content to take home the bronze medal with 1283, 1 pin from the Malaysian while Jasmine also finished strongly but missed the podium in fourth psotion with 1242.

"I knew that the gap which I had built up over the first four games was reduced drastically after I bowled a poor fifth game," said the relieved Cherie Tan. "The pressure was tremendous but I kept saying to myself to stay calm.

"Luckily I managed to double up in the final frame to hang on to the lead and win my country's first gold medal," added Cherie.

"I had a good start in the final game but I had an opened frame in the sixth," said Jazreel Tan. "I needed a strike in my bonus frame to tie with Li Jane and share the silver but managed only 9 pins to miss by 1 pin.

  

"Although I'm slightly disappointed but I'm still happy to come away with the bronze and I'm happy for Cherie winning the gold for Singapore."

Shayna Ng and New Hui Fen did Singapore proud by claiming fifth and sixth positions with 1261 and 1212 ahead of the Malaysian pair of Zandra Aziela and World Women Championship Singles gold medalist, Jacqueline Sijore in seventh and eighth.

Debutant, Puteri Astari was Indonesia's best performer taking up ninth position followed by Filipina, Apple Posadas rounding up the top 10.

In the earlier Men's Singles event, Jason Yeong-Nathan was Singpaore's best performer finishing ninth with 1314. Ng Tiac Pin finished 14th with 1277, Keith Saw 19th with 1225, Ng Chiew Pang 22nd with 1197, Basil Low and Eugene Low 28th and 29th positions 1146 with 1146 and 1144.

Filipinos, Frederick Ong and Jeremy Posadas won the gold and silver with 1386 and 1365 respectively while Malaysia's Adrian Ang strom home to snatch the bronze medal with 1359. Local favourite, Ryan Lalisang rolled the highest single game with 266 but missed the podium in fourth with 1341.

Competition will shift to the Doubles event tomorrow over the long oil pattern with the women taking to the lanes in the morning and the men in the afternoon.

Detailed scores: Women's Singles | Men's Singles |

Photos by Terence Yaw in Jakarta.