A podium finish for Singapore youth
28th March, K.Lumpur: Singapore's national youth, Teo Li Ying settled for a podium finish in the Milo International Youth Girl's Open Masters finals of the Canon 31st Malaysian International Open on Friday morning. National youth, Dayang Khairuniza set a blistering pace to take the lead in her two opening games but soon found newly-selected national youth teammate, Hee Kar Yen a handful when Hee took over the lead after the first 3-game series.
Hee, who was last year's Junior Circuit GP Finals Graded champion had Singapore's Teo Li Ying breathing on her neck just 4 pins after the fourth game. Teo surged into the lead at the halfway mark with Hee trailing by 17 pins.
But the 16-year-old rebounded back to regain the lead after the seventh game and looked almost certain to win her first major title but a disasterous 160 in her final game saw the Kuala Lumpur youngster handing the crown to teammate, Tengku Emanina Laily of Kedah.
Tengku Emanina, who trailed Hee by 80 pins before the final game, stormed home with 257 to take the title with 2024 while Hee settled for second with 2007. Teo Li Ying finished third with 2002.
Singapore's Eugene Low missed the podium despite finishing strongly in the second half of the Boy's Open Masters finals. Eugene had four superb opening games of 212, 201, 201 and 256 to trail leader Aziem Azemi of Malaysia in third.
A disasterous 166 in the fifth game saw the youngster dropping down the field as Hong Kong's Michael Tsang took over the lead at the halfway mark. Eugene rebounded with 208, 239, 207, 232 and 202 but his opponents were just too good.
The 19-year-old Singaporean settled for fifth spot with 2124 as Aziem Azemi claimed his first international title with a victory on 2228. Malaysian national youth, Syimir Abdul Razak finished second with 2181 while Michael Tsang finished third with 2163.
The Girl's Graded Masters crown went to Nur Diana Hussin of Kuala Lumpur with a total of 1915 ahead of Ainaa Khairina Bt Azman of Perak second and Siti Nur Fairuz Bt Zainal Abidin of Selangor third.
12-year-old sensation, Muhammad Syafiq Sajeli of Sarawak, claimed his second title this year after winning the Boy's Graded Masters crown with 2085. Pace-setter, Dinie Faliq Mokhtar of Melaka and Johor's Chan Wei Siang finished second and third with 2039 and 2001 respectively.
Photos by B.C. Cheah, MTBC.