Singapore women adds Team Silver

12th June, Singapore: Women’s 5-player Team first block leader, Singapore were overhauled by arch-rival, Malaysia to the gold and had to be content with their fourth silver medal of the 28th SEA Games Bowling Championship.

The gold medal for the Women’s 5-player Team event was a much tighter affair. Singapore’s Cherie Tan, Daphne Tan, Shayna Ng, New Hui Fen and Jazreel Tan, who led after the first block by seven pins, lost the lead at the start of the second block to their arch-rival, Malaysia.

Shalin Zulkifli, Natasha Roslan, Syaidatul Afifah, Esther Cheah and Sin Li Jane of Malaysia, blazed the lanes with a stunning 1110 in the fourth game to lead Singapore by 71 pins. Malaysia stretched their lead to 90 pins after the fifth game as Singapore stumbled to 908.

Singapore looked like they could overhaul the leader after ending with a strong 1018 in the sixth and final game, but Malaysia prevailed to end with 983 and sealed victory with 6067.

Singapore settled for the silver medal with 6012, 55 pins adrift. Philippines’ Liza Del Rosario, Alexis Sy, Maria Arles (replacing Krizziah Tabora from the first block), Lara Posadas and Liza Clutario hung on to third with 5776 to take home the bronze medal.

Thailand mounted a late challenge in their final game but felled short by just 23 pins to miss the podium in fourth position with 5744.

Shayna Ng and Jazreel Tan finished one-two in the Women’s All Events standings with 5138 and 5039 respectively. Esther Cheah of Malaysia and Daphne Tan tied third spot with 5004.

The cut at 16th position for the Masters finals went to Alexis Sy of Philippines with 4730 while Novie Phang of Indonesia missed the cut by one pin in 17th position with 4729.Six Singaporeans, five Malaysians, three Filipinas and two Indonesians qualified for the Masters.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s Javier Tan, Joel Tan, Howard Saw, Keith Saw and Justin Lim (replacing Muhd Jaris Goh from the first block) returned respectable lines of 961, 1051 and 942 in the second block but felled short by 139 pins to earn the bronze medal with 5713.

Muhd Rafiq Ismail, Adrian Ang, Alex Liew, Timmy Tan and Ahmad Muaz, who had a commanding lead of 207 pins after the first block bowled earlier, continued to maintain a healthy margin of 209 as they resumed their second block with 1027 in the fourth game.

Malaysia kept a good distant from their nearest rival with another superb 1032 after the fifth game and eventually cruised to a comfortable victory with 6238 to win the gold medal.

Ryan Lalisang, Diwan Rezaldy, Adhiguna Widiantoro, Billy Muhammad Islam and Hardy Rachmadian of Indonesia were unable to mount any treat to the leader and had to settle for the silver medal with 6066.

Thailand’s Annop Arromsaranon, Atchariya Cheng, Phumin Klanbida, Surasak Manuwong and Yannaphon Larpapharat earned the bronze medal with 5852, 214 pins adrift Indonesia.

Lalisang topped the All Events standings with 5110 from 24 games contested over four events. Doubles gold medalist, Keith Saw of Singapore finished second with 5098 and Muhd Rafiq Ismail third with 5082.

Javier Tan made the cut in 12th position with 4807 while Joel Tan missed the cut by four pins in 17th position with 4759. Five Malaysians, five Thais, four Indonesians and two Singaporeans qualified for the Masters finals.

The top 16 men and top 16 women will contest two blocks of 8 games Masters finals over two days. The top 3 men and top 3 women finishers at the end of the second block will advance to the stepladder finals for the last two gold medals of the championship.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Singapore.