Singapore emerges as overall champion
26th February, K.Lumpur: Remy Ong defied all odds to win Singapore's third gold medal and emerged as overall champion at V Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championship after he defeated top seed, Adrian Ang of Malaysia, 209-161 in the Men's Masters stepladder finals.Remy Ong, who finshed plumb last in the first block yesterday with just two wins, won all the six matched contested in the second block to haul himself up to third and crucially making the stepladder finals.
The Singaporean ousted No. 2 seed, Matt Chamberlain of England, 197-161 to earn a crack at the title meeting overnight leader and top seed, Adrian Ang of Malaysia.
The 29-year-old Ong rose to the occassion by beating the Malaysian, 209-161 to win Singapore's third gold medal and Ong's first individual gold medal. Ong totaled 2554 from the earlier two blocks Masters finals over two days.
Ang, who settled for the silver medal, amassed a total of 2648 from three wins today while Chamberlain totaled 2567 also from three wins.
"When Adrian choose short oil, I thought I was done because it was on short oil that I finished last yesterday," said Ong. "But somehow, the pattern was gave both of us problems, but I managed to adjust faster and find my line.
"This is simply fabulous. Winning the Masters has certainly eased a lot of pressure for me when I get home. I had only won the mixed team gold here and with expectations running high, I would have had a lot of answering to do, if I had returned without an individual gold.
"As is turned out, it is like a fairytale ending and only that it is not a dream but for real," added an elated Ong.
Australia's George Frilingos missed the cut for the stepladder finals finishing fourth with Guillaume Francois Louw of South Africa completing the top 5.
Meanwhile, Singapore was denied an historical double when Shayna Ng lost to top seed, Hayley White of England, 192-217 in the women's title stepladder match. Shayna, who was seventh in the first block, notched up five wins to advance to the stepladder finals in third.
The Singaporean lass, who also won the silver medal in the Singles on opening day, beat Nicki Ainge of England, 264-191 to face Ainge's team-mate, White in the finals.
Geraldine Ng, who was third in the first block, won only two matches to slip down to seventh and failing to make the stepladder finals.
Singapore's third gold and another silver medal allowed the country to top the overall medal tally. The nation went home with a medal haul of 3-2-0. Malaysia won the prestigious Perpetual Shield with the highest pinfalls by a country.
Malaysia could have finished first in the tally had Adrian Ang won the Masters gold but instead settled for third overall with 2-3-3 while White's victory in the Women's Masters put England in second with 3-1-2.
Detailed scores: Men's Stepladder Finals | Women's Stepladder Finals | Men's Block 2 Masters | Women's Block 2 MastersOverall Medal Tally.
Photos courtesy of MTBC.