Another shot at gold for Singapore
26th June, Bangkok: Singapore has another shot for their first gold medal at the 12th World Youth Championships 2012 after the nation’s second pair of New Hui Fen and Bernice Lim made the semi-finals in second. Singapore’s first pair of Ilma Nur Jannah and Krishna Darshini had topped the opening squad but the strong second squad performances saw Malaysia, Hui Fen and Lim, Japan and Korea taking up the top 4 spots.
Ilma Nur Jannah and Krishna Darshini topped the opening squad with 2441 beating the first American pair of Jessica Earnest and Kelsey Muther, who finished second with 2419 and Korea’s first pair of Kim Ga-Ram and Oh Nuri in third.
Korea’s second pair comprising of Singles gold medalist, Kim Seon-Jeong and Hwang Yeon-Ju set the early pace but were soon overhauled by Malaysia’s second pair of Dayang Khairuniza and Jacqueline Sijore.
The Malaysian bowled consistently and by the fourth game, saw New Hui Fen and Bernice Lim making a bid for the lead to move up to second after recovring from a slow start.
Sijore and Khairuniza ended the squad with a superb 2614 to claim top seed going into the semi-finals. Hui Fen and Lim took a well-deserved second spot with 2514 giving Singapore a another shot at the gold.Japan’s Misaki Mukotani and Hiraku Takekawa stormed home to cnatch third spot with 2501 while Kim and Hwang made the top 4 cut in fourth spot with 2497.
American Amanda Greene and Danielle McEwan, who were in contention at one stage, slipped down to miss the cut by 52 pins on a total of 2445. Lima and Krishna ended up in sixth and the first American pair in seventh position.
Malaysia will meet Korea in the first semi-final over one match while Singapore will square off with the Japanese.
The boys will contest their Doubles over four squads – three squads on JUne 27 and the last squad on June 28. The knockout semi-final rounds and the title match will follow immediately after the last squad.
Detailed scores: Girl’s Doubles Combined | Girl’s Doubles Squad B | Girl’s Doubles Squad A | Photo Album.Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.