Singapore rookies ready for the challenge

21st May, Hong Kong: A total of 16 rookies of Team Singapore are ready to challenge for honours at the 11th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship which will kick off on Friday at Hong Kong Bowling City.  Singapore, which entered two teams comprising of 4 boys and 4 girls aged under 18, paraded in front of a packed house during the official opening ceremony which was held this afternoon in which ten countries are taking part.

Headed by Team Manager and Principal of ACS Baker, Mr Tam Chong Tze and assisted by Mr Tan Seck Heong and Tan Swee Leng, all the 15 youths, except one, will be making their debut at the championship. The bowlers will be under the watchful eyes of coaches, Francis Yeo seconded from SBF, Amas Tan and Ronnie Ng.

The boys team are Jin Lau, Shawn Loh Chee Choong, Ng Chiew Pang, Keith Saw Hui Xun, Alexander Tan Kee Hock, Tan Cheng Kiat, Anthony Wee Wei Yang and Paul Yap Heng Zhong. The girls are Rachael Ang Xue Ying, Grace Fung Yu Si, Jolie Fung Yu Hui, Genevieve Gan Hui Ling, Edlyn Kwok You Jing, Celine Mok Wen Jun, Michelle Ng and Grace Tan Li Wei.

The 8 boys and 8 girls, who have been preparing for this championship after several months, were selected from the Singapore Schools Team of 16 boys and 16 girls. These 32 youths made the Singapore Schools team through the National Schools championship and the Secondary Schools championship.

"All the 16 boys and 6 girls made the grade after their averages surpassed the mark during the National Schools championship held last year while the remaining 10 were recommended based on their performances in other various championships," said Head of Department for PE at ACS Baker, Mr Tan Seck Heong, who was also the assistant manager for the championship in 2007.

"In the past, the selection of the players were done on an ad-hoc basis and results were quite unpredictable. But since 2007, the whole selection process has undergone a complete overhaul and now we feel that we've a much stronger team.

"But the team is still largely due to not only efforts from the Schools tenpin bowling program but Singapore Bowling Federation also played a major role. In fact the majority of these youths are part of the SBF national youth team."

At the last championship in 2007, Singapore came home with two bronze medals. Loh Xian Yan won the bronze in the Boy's Masters event while Bernice Lim took the bronze in the Girl's All Events. Over the past 10 meets from 1998, Singapore has won a total of 9 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze medals.

 

The championship kicks off tomorrow, 22nd May with the Singles event for both the boys and girls divisions divided into two squads (groups of players). The championship consists of Singles (individual), Doubles (team of 2) and the Team of 5 events. A total of 5 gold medals for each division will be contested.

The championship will end on the 26th May with the prestigious Stepladder Grand Finals after the two blocks of Masters Finals (8 games each block) are contested on 25th and 26th May.

 

Photos by Terence Yaw for SBF.