Singapore wins Team bronze

Singapore wins Team bronze

1st August, Las Vegas: The national coaches could not have asked for a better performance after four days of the World Women's Championship had passed without any showing. Reigning World Cup champion, Jesmine Yeong-Nathan led her teammates, Bernice Lim, Cherie Tan, Shayna Ng and Jazreel Tan to a moderate start in their opening game with 1001 as England set a blistering pace with 1165 from USA and Korea in close company.

A sizzling 1102 in the second gave a glimpse of hope to the Singapore team making the top 4 cut as they surge forward. An average 1040 in the third game of the short oil pattern put them in eighth position.

Fresh from a lunch break, a promising 1071 saw the team move nearer to the leader, Korea who took over the running from England, followed by their arch rival USA in second and Malaysia third.   Somehow the team went on a strikefest to fire home a scintilating 1150 to put themselves in the race for the crucial top 4 semifinal spots. With nerve of steel, Singapore shot 1025 in their last game to end the block in third and earned their semifinals spot with 6389 total. Korea claimed topseed with 6604 followed by USA in second with 6451. Malaysia's poor 908 in the final game saw them lost their place to Sweden, who also piped Denmark for the fourth and final spot with 6389.

Singapore eventually lost to USA, 934-1035 in the semifinals to take home the bronze medal. Sweden lost to topseed, Korea, 974-1041 in the other semi to set up a big clash between Korea and USA in the championship match.

The Asia powerhouse were simply too good as they cruised to a 1175-1071 victory over the Amercians to win their second gold medal of the championship. Jazreel Tan won a silver medal for Singapore in the last outing in Mexico. The nation also took home a Trios silver medal in the 2005 edition in Alborg, Denmark.   The hope now lies 2ith Cherie Tan, who made the top 16 in 13th position after she totaled 5100 over 24 games. Clara Guerrero of Colombia won the gold medal by topping the All Events standings with 5330.

Jasmine Yeong-Nathan was Singapore's next best performer but only finishing 26th position. Others in the table were Jazreel Tan (50th), Shayna Ng (55th), Bernice Lim (84th) and Geraldine Ng (105th).

The top 16 in the All Events standings advanced into the Masters Elimination Rounds with the topseed meeting the 16th seed in a best-of-5 matchplay rounds. The winners will proceed to the quarterfinals, semifinals and finally the title match to determine the champion.

Detailed scores: Team Semi & Finals | Team 2nd Block. Photos by Terence Yaw in Las Vegas.