Korea retains pole, wins first gold
2nd September, Monterry: Overnight pole sitter, Choi Jin A and Nam Bo Ra retained their top spot after the fourth and final squad completed Sunday morning to give Korea their first gold medal of the World Women's Championship. It was a case of "Last Chance Saloon" as the final squad of the Doubles event took to the lanes. The score to beat for gold was 2804 set by Korea's Choi Jin A and Nam Bo Ra in Squad 3 and just to get into bronze position called for 2729.
Denmark's Britt Brondsted and Kamilla Kjeldsen set a hot pace but faded after four games. Then the pace was taken over by the Swedish duo of Helen Johnsson and Malin Glendert and when it came into the home straight just Sweden and the Netherlands had a chance of ousting the Americans from bronze medal position, the Swedes needed 451 and the Dutch 510 in the final game.
Despite topping the squad with 2697, the Swedes fell short by 91 pins of their target and the Dutch were further back. So, the final positions was Korea gold and silver and the United States bronze for the podium and coveted medals.
Doha Asian Games gold medalist, Choi Jin A and Nam Bo Ra claimed the gold with Squad 1 leader, Gye Min Young and perfect gamer, Kim Yeau Jin the silver, giving Korea a 1-2 finish. Lynda Barnes and Tennelle Milligan of USA claimed the bronze.
The Swedish pair of Helen Johnsson and Malin Glendert finished fourth with the unlucky Malaysian pair of Shalin Zulkifli and Sharon Koh settling for fifth position. Squad 2 leader, Ann-Maree Putney and Jayde Flanagan of Australia rounded up the top 6.
Choi also led the All Events standings with 1437 followed by Ingellimar Contreras of Venezuela in second, 21 pins adrift. Kim Yeau Jin, Gye Min Young and Dominican Republic's Aumi Guerra took up third to fifth spots.
Detailed scores: Doubles Squad 4 | Doubles Combined | Photo Album.Photos courtesy of Keith Hale, Bowlers Journal International.