41st Singapore Open kicks off
20th May, Singapore: The 41st Singapore International Open is set to keep everyone on their feet as it kicks off today with Finn Mika Koivuniemi and Malaysian Zatil Iman to defend their Men's and Ladies' Masters titles.
The action continues again this year, when the anticipated Singapore International Open, offering a cash prize money of S$150,000 returns from May 20-31 at Superbowl Safra Mount Faber.
"The Singapore International Open by Singapore Bowling offers one of the highest prize awards for South East Asia and Asia and annually attracts some of the best keglers from all over the globe," said the President of the Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) and President of FIQ, Jessie Phua.
"This year's 41st hosting attests to this tournament's ever appealing draw and affirms its long held recognition as the most premier tournament in Asia. Expect to be enthralled and bowled over this May when some of our sport's most talented gather in Singapore to battle for top honours.
Remy Ong and Cherie Tan were the closest local contenders in the Men's and Ladies' titles after they both came in third last year, but this year will see a stronger surge by the Singaporeans, led by the success of their young bowler, 19-year-old Jazreel Tan who clinched her first international title at the Malaysian Open.
Nonetheless, it will be an exciting affair when the world's top bowlers perform at their upmost best to keep spectators on the edge of their seats with back-to-back strikes.About Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF)
The Federation today is headed by Jessie Phua, whose involvement with bowling dates back to 1994 when she was the Chairman of SBF's Youth Development Program. In 1995, she was elected Vice President of SBF.
Sidek Bin Saniff, former Senior Minister of the State for Environment and an avid believer that bowling is for all ages and all races, is still the Federation's Advisor and had played a pivotal role in the introduction of Tenpin Bowling as a co-curricular activity in schools. In addition, the Federation was one under the distinguished patronage of Tan Eng Joo and Kwek Leng Joo, both very prominent business leaders in Singapore.
Jessie Phua is also the newly elected FIQ President and is ably assisted by a high-powered team of vice-presidents and council members who has each contributed in no small way towards the success of SBF.
With financial support from the Sports Excellence Division of the Singapore Sports Council and the funds to be generated by the Federation through other sources, there is an air of optimism in SBF that Tenpin Bowling will bring Singapore to the heights of Sporting Excellence.Photos by Terence Yaw.