Singapore has three Masters finalists
22nd November, Guangzhou: Three Singapre national bowlers, Jason Yeong-Nathan, Shayna Ng and Cherie Tan qualified for the Men's and Women's Masters finals of the 16th Asian Games after finishing in the top 16 of the All Events standings. Cherie Tan, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan, Geraldine Ng, Shayna Ng and New Hui Fen (alternated for Jazreel Tan) ended their second block of the five-player team event in ninth position with a total of 5855.
Shayna and Cherie were the two better performer scoring 1270 and 1251 respectively to secure their places in the Masters finals in sixth and seventh. Jazreel Tan tied 12th position with Indonesia's Tannya Roumimper and Filipina, Liza Del Rosario with 4972 but did not qualify because Shayna and CHerie finished above her.
Korean women bagged their third gold and a fifth for their country by winning the five-player team event with 6711 and broke the 6-game total of 6555 set by Malaysia in 2006. Their second 3-game series of 3426 also erased the one set by Malaysia in 2002.
Indonesia, who broke the one-game total of 1223 by Malaysia with 1247 in the third game yesterday, finished second to win the silver medal with 6340. Malaysia took home the bronze medal with 6295.
Hwang Sun-Ok and Choi Jin-A of Korea, won the All Events gold and silver medals with 5508 and 5276 but another Korean, Son Yun-Hee had to give away her bronze medal to China's Zhang Yu Hong.
Meanwhile Singapore men put in a lackluster performance to end the five-player team in a disappointing 14th position. Jason Yeong-Nathan was the top performer with 1265, which secure his place in the Masters finals after taking up 11th in the All Events.
Remy Ong (34th-5000), Basil Low (39th-4986), Benjamin Lim (57th-4865) and Mark Wong (71st-4718) failed to make the finals.
Korea snatched the gold medal from the overnight first block leader, Malaysia to win the Men's five-player event with 6654. Korea, who was fifth in the first block, shot 1176, 1137 and 1133 in their second block to take a comfortable victory.
Malaysia who was leading up to the fifth game, crumbled in their final game with 962 to settle for the silver medal with 6579. Hong Kong, after a 22 year-lapse, finally won the bronze medla with 6475.
Alex Liew won his second gold medal after topping the Men's All Events with 5448, just 7 pins ahead of Choi Kong-Kyu in second and Choi Bok-Eum third with 5441 and 5431 to take home the silver and bronze medals.
The Masters finalists will contest the Round-Robin Matchplay finals over two blocks on November 23 and 24. The top 3 men and top 3 women will then advance to the stepladder finals for the final gold medal.
Detailed scores: Women's Team Block 2 | Men's Team Block 2.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Guangzhou.