Singapore draws blank in first event

20th July, Kaohsiung: Singapore's Remy Ong and Jennifer Tan drew blank on the opening Mixed Doubles event of the World Games Kaohsiung 2009 as Korea powered to their first gold at Happy Bowling Centre.  With confidence bubbling in the Singapore camp, Jennifer Tan and Remy Ong opened account with 411 and was sixth but dropped further down the field after a poor 338 in the second. By the halfway mark, Singapore was trailing the leaders, Colombia by some 220 pins.

Despite a strong rally in the second half with 421, 439 and 469, the pair could only finish ninth in a field of 23 teams. Colombia topped the field with 2605 to advance into the finals as topseed.

Korea's Gye Min Young and Kong Byoung Hee finished second with 2588 while Malaysia's Zatil Iman and Adrian Ang made the semifinals in third spot with 2576.

Korea defeated Malaysia, 421-391 in the semifinals and went on to beat Colombia's Anggie Ramirez and Manuel Otalora, 840-710 over the two-game finals to win the first gold medal. Colombia settled for the silver while Malaysia took home the bronze medal.

Jennifer Tan posted 1237 to finish fifth in the Women's Top 10 Standings as Finland's Krista Pollanen shot the highest 6-game series of 1290. Remy Ong ended 14th with 1208 in the men's division standings with Kong Byoung Hee leading with 1439.

The bowlers will resume with their Singles event over two blocks of 6 games each. The top 10 after 18 games (6 from mixed doubles and 12 from singles) will advance to the Singles Round-robin matchplay finals on Wednesday.

Detailed scores: Mixed Doubles | Mixed Doubles Semi & Finals.Photos by Terence Yaw in Kaohsiung.