Singapore youth snatches gold
7th July, Bangkok: Howard Saw Hui-Zhe of Singapore Team A snatched the Boy's Singles gold medal of the 13th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship in the final squad by edging overnight leader, Michael Mak of Hong Kong by 22 pins. Michael Mak of Hong Kong had set a benchmark of 1345 by topping the two combined Squad A and B bowled yesterday before the third and final squad competitors took to the lanes at Blu-O Esplanade Bowling Center this morning.
Kuwait's Muhanad Ebrahim started a cracking pace with 249 in his opening game to lead Australia's Joshua Morel by 8 pins. Howard Saw of Singapore Team A had a moderate start with 209 but shot the highest game of the squad with 268 in the second game to take over the running.
The Singapore national youth continued a relentless pace to roll 225 and 258 in his next two games to accumulate 960 by the fourth game and set himself on course for a medal. Yet Howard would need 386 in his final two games to overhaul overnight leader, Michael Mak.
A splendid 219 in the fifth game gave the squad leader some breathing space as he would only need 166 or more to clinch the gold medal. Howard started off with three strikes-in-a-row but then had a back-to-back open frames in the sixth and seventh.But Howard kept his composure to end the final game with 188 to snatch the gold medal with 1367 and 22 pins to spare. Michael settled for the silver while Abdulla Ahmed of Kuwait, who was second overnight, took the bronze medal with 1333.
"I started OK in the first game but I wasn't really making good shots," said the 18-year-old Anglo-Chinese Junior College 'A' level student, Howard Saw, who won four out of five gold medals at this year's Inter-School Championship.
"My coach, John calmed me down a bit and asked me to concentrate on making better shots and after that when the big games came, I was much more relaxed.
"I knew I was in a medal contention and wasn't really sure that I was actually fighting for a gold medal. I was tensed toward the end but I'm glad I pulled through to win the first gold for myself and my country."
Thailand's Vorachet Arayavisedvong, who stormed home to finish second to Howard in this squad, ended up in fifth with 1287 behind a second Hong Kong youth, Leo Tse in fourth with 1288.
The Girl's Doubles Squad A will be contested this afternoon followed by the second squad together with the Boy's Doubles Squad A in the evening to end the second day of competition.
Detailed scores: Boy's Singles Combined | Boy's Singles Squad C | Photo Album.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.